ALTON, Va. (MCT) — A 14-year-old motorcycle racer died Monday morning from injuries he suffered during a Sunday accident as he competed at the Virginia International Raceway.
Toriano Wilson of Bermuda lost control of his bike and fell on the track during the first lap of the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup. While he was attempting to get out of the way he was accidentally struck by another rider, Luciano Ribodino, 14, of Argentina, the AMA and Red Bull said in a statement.
Wilson was taken by helicopter to UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill for treatment. He died early Monday morning from his injuries. Ribodino was taken to Duke Medical Center in Durham. He suffered a broken left arm and broken left femur and was in stable condition Monday, the statement said.
A third rider, 15-year-old Garet Tomlinson of California, was also involved in the accident, though he was not taken to the hospital.
The Rookies Cup is designed to give young riders 13 to 16 years of age the opportunity to compete on actual road racing circuits on identical bikes and under identical conditions.
"The AMA and Red Bull have a long history in racing and every effort is made to create the safest possible environment for all participants," the organizations said in a statement. "Unfortunately, racing also carries inherent risks. This was a tragic accident and our thoughts are with both families at this time."
Wilson, or "The Animal" as other racers call him, became interested in racing after watching his father compete. He set a record in his native Bermuda in 2006 when he became the youngest rider to participate in the 125 GP class.
Last year, Wilson started competing in several different American racing organizations where he earned some impressive results along the way. He was the only rider from the island to take part in this year's Rookies Cup.
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