Eros Manferdini's Fatal Crash @ Rijeka 1990
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2023-11-22
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The Italian rider Eros Manferdini, 28-year-old, was killed during the fifth round of the European Motorcycle Championship 250 cm3 class, held at Rijeka, Yugoslavia - now territory of Cratia - on Sunday, 27 May 1990.
Originally from Bibbiano, province of Reggio Emilia, Italy, Eros Manferdini was a motor mechanic by trade. He left his job two years before his death, to follow his dream of motorcycle racing. In his first season in the European Motorcycle Championship in 1989, he finished 15th at Le Castelet, France, and in 1990 he had already competed in Spain and in Germany, where he finished in 17th place, before the Rijeka race. In 1992 the "Motoclub Eros Manferdini" named after him, was founded in his hometown.
Shortly after the start of the race, Finnish rider Päiväläinen and Britain's Nigel Bosworth hit the straw bales near the side of the track on the first turn. Bosworth's machine and several straw bales bounced into the path of the oncoming competitors, causing a multiple pile-up. Manferdini could not avoid impact, fell down and was run over by other bikes, being killed at the scene.
Six other riders, including Bosworth, Giuseppe Formilan and Jurgen den Gorbergh, were severely injured in the accident, bikes and straw bales caught fire. A number of accidents including the fatal crash of Manferdini caused the end of Rijeka as an International racing venue. It was regarded as an insecure and unsafe track.
Three weeks after Manferdini's fatal crash, popular German rider Reinhold Roth, two times runner-up in the World Motorcycle Championship 250 cm3 class in 1987 and 1989, was involved in another huge accident at Rijeka, while battling for the lead in a tight pack of seven, in the Grand Prix of Yugoslavia 250 cm3 race. Roth crashed into the back of another rider who was proceeding at a very slow pace, thinking that the race was going to be red-flagged because of a sudden deluge. Roth suffered severe brain damage to which he never recovered, his life required nursing care at all times.
R.I.P
Originally from Bibbiano, province of Reggio Emilia, Italy, Eros Manferdini was a motor mechanic by trade. He left his job two years before his death, to follow his dream of motorcycle racing. In his first season in the European Motorcycle Championship in 1989, he finished 15th at Le Castelet, France, and in 1990 he had already competed in Spain and in Germany, where he finished in 17th place, before the Rijeka race. In 1992 the "Motoclub Eros Manferdini" named after him, was founded in his hometown.
Shortly after the start of the race, Finnish rider Päiväläinen and Britain's Nigel Bosworth hit the straw bales near the side of the track on the first turn. Bosworth's machine and several straw bales bounced into the path of the oncoming competitors, causing a multiple pile-up. Manferdini could not avoid impact, fell down and was run over by other bikes, being killed at the scene.
Six other riders, including Bosworth, Giuseppe Formilan and Jurgen den Gorbergh, were severely injured in the accident, bikes and straw bales caught fire. A number of accidents including the fatal crash of Manferdini caused the end of Rijeka as an International racing venue. It was regarded as an insecure and unsafe track.
Three weeks after Manferdini's fatal crash, popular German rider Reinhold Roth, two times runner-up in the World Motorcycle Championship 250 cm3 class in 1987 and 1989, was involved in another huge accident at Rijeka, while battling for the lead in a tight pack of seven, in the Grand Prix of Yugoslavia 250 cm3 race. Roth crashed into the back of another rider who was proceeding at a very slow pace, thinking that the race was going to be red-flagged because of a sudden deluge. Roth suffered severe brain damage to which he never recovered, his life required nursing care at all times.
R.I.P
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