Shoya Tomizawa dies in terrible accident
Promising young motorcycle rider Shoya Tomizawa has died at the age of 19 following an accident at the San Marino circuit in a Moto2 race on Sunday.
The Japanese youngster came off his bike and was subsequently hit by Alexis de Angelis and Scott Redding who were close behind and were unable to stop in time. Tomizawa was pronounced dead later that day as a result of the injuries he sustained in the collision.
Tributes came in from all around the world of motorcycle racing. Eskil Suter, who is the CEO of Suter Racing Technology, the team Tomizawa represented, gave this message on the Suter website.
“Shoya was more than a friend. He was like a family member to us - kind-hearted, nice and friendly. He was loved by everybody in the paddock, and I am terribly sorry for his family and his team who suffered this tragic loss.
“I also feel sorry for De Angelis and our rider Scott Redding. After the initial suspicion of a fractured pelvis, Scott was cleared of serious injuries, but mentally, he is completely shattered even though nothing that happened was his fault. Today was a sad reminder that racing remains dangerous despite all improvements in track safety.”
Suter was joined in the tributes by world champion Valentino Rossi in paying tribute who said: "Shoya Tomizawa was a very good rider. He was funny, always smiling with a kind word for everyone. He was also very young, with a great career ahead of him."
Tomizawa was competing in his second full season in second-tier motorcycle racing having moved to Suter from Honda at the end of last season where he came 17th in the standings with 32 points.
The 2010 season had started fantastically for the Japanese rider with a first place finish in Qatar, followed by a second place at the Spanish GP. The season had been developing well for Tomizawa and he was in seventh place in the overall standings at the time of his death.
Much was expected of Tomizawa and his tragic loss leaves a big hole in the sport that has affected teams, riders and fans alike. He becomes the first rider to die in a Grand Prix since Daljiro Kato in 2003.
The next Moto2 race in Argentina is expected to go ahead as planned with tributes to Tomizawa.
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