Two-time motorcycle vice world champion Ralf Waldmann dead

Cologne (SID) The two-time motorcycle vice world champion Ralf Waldmann has died at the age of 51. The winner of 20 Grand Prix, until recently a TV expert for the Eurosport channel, was found dead in Ennepetal on Saturday, according to information from the specialist portal speedweek.com. Waldmann raced in the World Championship between 1986 and 2009, his greatest successes were the two second places in the 250cc in 1996 and 1997. Waldmann reached the podium 50 times in his career. Now he was suddenly torn from life. “We regret the death of multiple Grand Prix winner Ralf Waldmann, our thoughts are with his friends and family,” said motogp.com on Sunday afternoon. Eurosport condoled via Twitter: "It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our MotoGP expert Ralf Waldmann († 51). You were a great sportsman and a great colleague. We will miss you. Our condolences and sympathy go out to the Waldmann family." Alex Hofmann, former Eurosport expert and former MotoGP driver himself, wrote: "Ride in peace, Waldi. You were so fast on the track and unique off the track." According to speedweek.com, the trained plumber Waldmann drove to his parents' house in Ennepetal on Saturday to do some craft work. When "Waldi" didn't return on time, his partner set off and found him lifeless. Any help came too late and the cause of death has not yet been clarified. Waldmann has a sad record. No other pilot has celebrated 20 victories without winning a world title. In 1996 he was six points behind the champion, in 1997 he was only two. In both cases, the fun-loving Waldmann failed on his Honda to the Italian Max Biaggi, who also spoke out in shock on Twitter. “You left us far too soon, Waldy. We will miss you,” the 46-year-old wrote in German. Waldmann drove his last full season in 2000, followed by a total of four guest starts in 2002 and 2009, and in 2005 the Hagen native competed in a race in the Superbike World Championship. His attempt to revive the two-wheeler legend MZ together with Martin Wimmer, also a former motorcycle pilot, failed. Since 2016, Waldmann, who is popular in the paddock, has been reporting for Eurosport from the world's tracks on races in the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP classes.

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Two-time motorcycle vice world champion Ralf Waldmann dead

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