Former 125cc World Championship rider Stefano Bianco has died at the age of 34 after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Italy.
The Italian, who competed on the GP stage between 2000 and 2008, was according to local reports killed in his home town of Chivasso when a vehicle ahead pulled out in front of him, forcing him to take avoiding action on his Honda CBR600 and striking an oncoming car.
Bianco made his grand prix debut in 2000 aged just 15-years old and proceeded to compete in 53 events over the next eight years. His best results were a pair of seventh place results at Le Mans and Circuit de Catalunya in 2002.
A former team-mate of MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone, he took to Instagram to describe his sadness at the passing of his countryman.
[translated] “Goodbye Stefano, a little while ago I received this shocking news. We shared the box in the year 2007, we were teammates and rivals ... I always kept the memory of us pure and true. I hug you tight, I'm upset. RIP.”
