World Superbike star Dean Berta Vinales has been paid an emotional tribute by his girlfriend after the teenager died in a horrific crash on Saturday.
Vinales - cousin of MotoGP race winner Maverick - died during the opening race of the Motul Spanish Round of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championships that took place last weekend in Spain.
Vinales was involved in a five-way crash with Alejandro Carrion, Daniel Mogeda, Harry Khouri and Yeray Ruiz at turn two of lap 11, and the 15-year-old suffered severe head and spinal injuries as a result.
The race was immediately red-flagged by the stewards, with Kawasaki rider Jeffrey Buis declared the winner based on the results of the last completed lap.
After the race was stopped, paramedics immediately burst onto the track in Jerez and the rider was taken to the on-site medical centre. However, Vinales was pronounced dead at the scene after he could not be resuscitated.
His girlfriend, Rebecca Ortola - who plays for Valencia Football Club - emotionally took to social media to express her anguish at the tragic events alongside photos of the pair.
“Why? Why is life like this? Why does it snatch from you the people you must have in life?” she wrote. “I have not got the strength or words to express my pain right now.
“From the day I met you we began to speak every day until the moment you were gone. From the first day I knew you were the one, despite the ups and downs in our relationship, and I was certain we would be together always whatever happened.
“That’s how unfair life is. I’m left with all the moments we’ve spent together (which are many) and all the times we’ve come through things together and supported each other.
“That smile you always had, your sense of humour and your silly stuff, your friendliness, how affectionate you were with the people you loved, and above all the warrior you were.
“My love, you always achieved what you set as your target and you never gave up.
“Who is going to tell me those things now you’re gone? Who’s going to send me a good morning message when I wake up,” Ortola continued, acknowledging she would miss the messages he would send her, such as referring to her as ‘the best girlfriend in the world’ among a shower of compliments. “You’ve left such a deep emptiness.
“I promise we will see each other soon. As you used to say ‘Always together my love.’
“I love you with all my being, love of my life, now and the rest of my life. I love you, I love you, I love you. Rest in peace my darling, now you know everything.”
Vinales scored a best finish of fourth in the second race at Magny-Cours in France last month and had qualified 10th on the grid for this weekend's WSBK races in his native Spain.
Tributes from the world of motorbike racing continue to pour out, with WorldSBK releasing a statement on the weekend that said: “We’re deeply saddened to report the loss of Dean Berta Vinales.
“The WorldSBK family sends love to his family, loved ones, and his team. Your personality, enthusiasm, and commitment will be hugely missed.
“The whole motorcycle racing world will miss you, Dean. Ride in Peace.”
Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez expressed his condolences too, and wrote on social media: “Rest in peace Dean. All my support to family and friends."
