Tommy Aquino killed in motocross accident

Former AMA Pro Racing Daytona Sportbike championship contender Tommy Aquino was killed today while riding motocross at Piru Ranch MX in Piru, California. The Santa Clarita-born racer competed most recently in the 2013 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship, a British Superbike Championship support series. He was just 21 years old.

Details surrounding Aquino’s motocross accident were initially reported by the Ventura County Star (vcstar.com), and the incident was described as a "head-on collision between two motorcyclists. One rider was airlifted to a local hospital, whereas the other rider, a male in his early 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene," according to the story. "The accident was called in at 12:30pm on Sunday February 2, 2014." Unconfirmed eyewitness accounts allege that the other rider lost control entering a turn and shot over the berm and into Aquino's path as he was heading down a hill on another section of the track.

Aquino spent the 2013 racing season aboard a WD-40-backed GR Motosport Ltd. Kawasaki ZX-10R in the British Superbike Championship's Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship. He recorded his first pole position and then a sensational first place finish at Cadwell Park, a notoriously difficult circuit to learn that includes "The Mountain", a hill section that causes riders to get airborne; he ended the season seventh in the championship standings. Aquino was very popular with the British fans and paddock; he was given the nickname "Hollywood" apparently due to the belief that his hometown of Santa Clarita was in close proximity to TinselTown. Almost immediately after the accident, the GR Motosport Ltd. team confirmed Aquino’s passing on its website: “It is with massive regret that we confirm the extremely sad passing of our friend and rider Tommy Aquino. Tommy was enjoying a day with his father ‘Tom’ and friend and became involved in a freak accident,” the team says.

Aquino’s best finish in the AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike class came at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2011 when he finished first, ahead of his Yamaha-backed teammate Josh Herrin. When asked about Aquino’s passing, Herrin said that, “It doesn't seem real that he is gone. I knew Tommy most of my life and always thought of him as a part of my family. I will never forget the great times we had as kids or how amazing it was to share our childhood dreams and share a factory Yamaha trailer with him. My thoughts and prayers are with Carrie, Tom, and Michael Aquino. I love you buddy!"

The Sport Rider staff most recently ran into Aquino at the press introduction of the 2014 MV Agusta F3 800, where he was helping with test notes for a separate publication. Aquino was wearing an ear-to-ear smile all day long, as he always was, and will be remembered for the energy he brought to any racing paddock.