Shoya Tomizawa dies following crash in Misano Moto2 race

JAPANESE MOTO2 rider Shoya Tomizawa has died following a crash in today's Moto2 race at Misano

The Japanese rider crashed while under pressure from Italian Alex de Angelis and was subsequently hit by British rider Scott Redding, as well as de Angelis.

Tomizawa, aged just 19, won the opening race of the 2010 Moto2 season at Qatar.

From MotoGP organisers:

On Sunday 5th September during the Moto2 race at the Misano World Circuit, rider Shoya Tomizawa aged 19 suffered a serious crash and subsequent cranial, thoracic and abdominal trauma.

Given the seriousness of his condition - especially for the thoracic and abdominal trauma - Tomizawa was immediately treated at the Misano World Circuit medical centre and put under artificial respiration.

The rider was taken by ambulance to the Riccione hospital accompanied by two doctors - helicopter was not used in order to allow for the proper respiratory support to be administered. Despite various attempts to resuscitate him Shoya sadly succumbed to his injuries at 14.20.

Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Shoya’s family and friends at this tragic loss.

MotoGP pundit Michael Scott says:

Japanese racer Shoya Tomizawa was fatally injured in a horror crash in the Moto2 race at Misano on Sunday. He was the lead rider in a three-bike pile-up at close to top speed on the 12th lap of the 28-lap race, and was struck by both following riders.

Tomizawa, winner of the first ever Moto2 race at Qatar, was riding a Technomag-CIP Suter, and had earlier led the race. He was lying a close fourth when he fell, on the exit of the very fast right-hander at the end of the back straight.

Aged 19, he was from Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo.

French rider Jules Cluzel, following closely, described how riders just touch the brakes at that point, for the next tighter right-hander. “I saw him lose the front, and he went over the kerb and touched the Astroturf,” he said.

In a freak series of events, instead of sliding out from the track, his bike spun and he and the machine came back right in the path of Alex de Angelis and Scott Redding, right behind him.

Both hit the rider and the wreckage. Redding was flung high in the air, ending up way down the track on the run-off area for the next corner. Stretchered away, he was later released with multiple bruising and contusions and a gash on his back, but no fractures. De Angelis walked away from the crash.       

The race went on as the stricken Tomizawa was stretchered away and taken quickly to the track medical centre. MotoGP medical chief Dr Claudio Macchiagodena described how he had a faint heartbeat, and was placed in artificial respiration, then transferred to the nearby Riccione hospital by ambulance, with two doctors present.     

Attempts to resuscitate him failed, and he was certified dead at 2:20 pm, 20 minutes after the start of the MotoGP race. He had suffered massive cranial, thoracic and abdominal trauma and internal bleeding, said Macchiagodena.

Tomizawa was the first GP rider to be killed since his countryman Daijiro Kato, who died at Suzuka in Japan in 1998. The previous victim was also Japanese: Nobuyuki Wakai was killed in a pit-lane accident at Jerez in 1993.

He made his GP debut as a wild card rider in the Japanese GP in 2006, and ran a full 250 season in 2009, where he impressed as a spirited privateer, with a best finish of tenth, and 17th overall.

His victory at Qatar brought him to wider attention, and he was a popular figure in the paddock, where his modest and cheerful nature won him many friends.

The race was not stopped, said race director Paul Butler, “because the medical intervention was very quick, and the injured riders and the debris were cleared from the track very quickly. The marshals and track staff were very swift, and there was no danger to other riders.”

A sense of shock pervaded the paddock after the MotoGP race, as the news of Tomizawa’s death spread. Race winner Dani Pedrosa said: “There are no words to say how it feels after this victory – it feels like nothing. As a person, I can only say he was a very funny boy, always happy and making jokes, and as a rider he earned respect from everybody in a very short time ... he was very fast and brave.”

Rossi added his condolences. “He was always smiling and also very fast and very young.” It was, he said, “a very strange crash. Usually if you crash on a fast corner you go away to the outside ... but he crashed and stayed on the line.”

Andrea Dovizioso said: “My thoughts are with Shoya. The news is like a slap in the face. Two tragic accidents in two races is so terrible, and it reminds us how dangerous is our job. The safety levels have improved so much that we often forget this aspect.

“I’m so sorry for Tomizawa’s family. Having become a father I understand this is the worst thing that can happen for a family.”

Nicky Hayden said: “I’m really sad. I think the whole paddock has been hit hard by this tragedy. At the end of the day we are all brothers here. “We’ve lost a talented kid with a great personality. I loved his style, his determination, and the smile he always wore.”