Tomizawa dies after Moto2 crash
Reuters - Sun, 05 Sep 15:18:00 2010
Nineteen-year-old Japanese Moto2 rider Shoya Tomizawa has died after a crash during Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix, the second death in the sport in two events.
Doctor Claudio Costa, part of the motorcycling world championship's medical team, told reporters the news.
Riders in the premier MotoGP class were also informed after their race, won by Dani Pedrosa.
"I found out now, when things like this happen nothing else matters," world champion Valentino Rossi told Mediaset television. "He was a lovely guy, it was a horrible accident."
Suter's Tomizawa was travelling at full speed when he fell off before a corner and was hit violently by the bikes of Alex De Angelis and Scott Redding, who both also tumbled but looked relatively unhurt.
A 13-year-old also died in a minor race before the Indianapolis MotoGP in the sport's last grand prix in August.
Motorcycling has always been among motorsport's most dangerous pursuits given riders are often thrown from their bikes and run the risk of hitting objects or being struck by other riders.
"You forget sometimes how easily something like this can happen. Sometimes our sport is just too dangerous," MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso said.
Moto2, the new name for the former 250cc category below MotoGP, still generates huge speeds and officials said they decided to continue with the race after the crash because of the fear of other accidents if a red flag was suddenly shown.
They added that Tomizawa was alive when he was taken from the track and rushed to a local hospital on Italy's east coast.
He was pronounced dead soon after.
The official news of his death had not filtered through before the start of the MotoGP race so the event went ahead.
Rossi, who suffered a broken leg in an accident before the Italian Grand Prix in June, led riders in a tribute to another dead Japanese colleague Daijiro Kato earlier in the week in a ceremony at Misano.
Kato, who lived in the Misano area, died after an accident at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2003.
Rossi has worked hard with other riders to try to make the sport safer but has said there is a limit to how much they can do.
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a fellow biker is dead R.I.P Tomizawa. Ride safe all bikers.
What more worst could happpen than awesome rider like Shoya died .
He's one of the talented rider i've ever seen . I've been lucky enough too see him racing . Too bad , he passed away way too early . It's really such a great loss for us , Motogp and to his family .
R.I.P Shoya-san .
tyandmeg65 you low life how can you say that? i hope you suffer in pain and slow at that. The world of motorsport has lost a fine young racer and i am very sad to see that, my thoughts are with his family. RIP shoya
In the light of what happened i found rossi and his ego also his fans very insulting in this very tragic day.
( MY SYSPATHIES TO TOMIZAWA AND HIS FAMILY)
An awful day in motorsports, the loss life for something as trival as racing, but death in motorsports has been reduced to a few thankfully and my thoughts go out to those close to Tomizawa or those reminded of their own loss in the past. BUT.....I have to say I was appauled at the insensitive, misinformed and inaccurate way Toby 'Brittas' Moody and Julian Ryder communicated the accident in the Moto2 race. The way they screamed and balled how miraculous it was that De Angelis walked away when it was blatantly obvoius to anybody watching that Tomizawa laid motionless, critically injured and Reading not much better. Worse, much much worse, was Ryders comment or ill informed 'update' that none of the injuries to the riders involved were life threatening.... because they heard it from a pitlane hack who was as good as official...to which Moody crowed 'because I asked him to help'... 'journalist helping journalist'.... Seriously, these two really are the epitome of amaeturism, they are so lost in their own 'well connected' importance. Then following the MotoGP race finish came Eurosports official confirmation that Tomizawa had died.....Moodys statement was rude, blunt and boardered on vulgar! I actually watched the live MotoGP race via the BBC and they way they handled the news was much more respectful and professional, watching your recording was offensive. Moody, Ryder....hang your heads in shame!
All I can say, is that I don;t watch Moto GP often but I saw the very first Moto2 race of the season when this guy won, I'd never seen him before........ but he seemed like a really likeable person and had a certain star quality about him.....
That big cheeky smile of his on the podium will be sorely missed. RIP
@tyandmeg65, What a complete @#$% @#$% you are. You @#$% pea brained knobend. Sure as @#$% you are about as much use as a chocolate teapot, now @#$% off back into your hole you @#$%.
Tomizawa. Rest in peace my brother. Moto 2 is giving us some of the best racing ever. May your family, friends and fans take some solice in that you died doing what you loved . . you will be remembered !!!
Tomizawa was a delight to watch and as horrific as the crash was that ended his life, we should celebrate his life and incredible passion for his sport and obvious talent he displayed with with honor and respect for anyone he came in contact with. I was looking forward to his progression and he was honestly (and still is) my most favorite Moto2 rider. I got the news while watching the MotoGP race and had not seen the Moto2 race yet, and quite honestly could not believe it at first. Winning the first race and his obvious awesome competitive spirit, which you could not deny if you ever saw him race, he surprised me more with his smile and obvious zest for this life.
No matter what, this is a tragedy for us to lose such a talent and above all, a wonderful person that represented the sport with such dignity and kindness that is rarely seen in that kind of combination. He's was a winner before and remains so in my book forever more.
R.I.P Shoya Tomizawa, thank you for sharing your life and passion with us; you will never be forgotten by many of us.
tyandmeg 65 you are a absolute disgrace to the human race, what has shoya tomizawa ever done to you, NOTHING, and dont come out with crap about the japs bombing pearl harbour we have heard it all before,
go and rot down your little hole where you came from you pathetic human of a being
Why was nothing said on the news channals but some stupid footballer who can't keepwith one women gets on all the news channals all over the world
Left me feeling sick in my stomach and so sad. He was one of my favourite riders in this class despite knowing very little about him. To me, moto2 has now lost one of its true charactors and true gentlemen.
What does make me angry is all this religious crap - PRAYERS AND GOD - If there was any truth in that utter nonsense (and there is no truth in it - fact) things like this would nt happen quite so often, would they. Grow up.
RIP... another great sportsman that will be missed. Prayers go out to his family.
I work in a medical rescue team, and i have to say i have never seen a very seriously injured person treated that way!
They drag him out of the track like they were cleaning debris from bike parts!!
ABSOLUTELY SHOKING!!
R.I.P Shoya .... You will be sadly missed May your path to heaven be a long straight flat - out run ....
Anyone else feels that if this happened in the MotoGP race it would have been stopped right away?
But these guys are not the main atraction to the organizers (dorna) and they sure prooved that yesterday...
watch from here
A sad sad loss of such a talented and likable young rider. My thoughts go out to all his family and friends. My thoughts also go to Alex and Scott who could have done absolutely nothing to avoid the crash - what a terrible time it must be for them as well.
The only criticism of the incident I have concerns the marshalls involved. I thought I was watching a race back in the 50's or 60's the way they just scooped up the riders onto stretchers without doing any appropriate assessment on their injuries. And then to see them actually drop Shoya as they carried him off the track was astounding. I know the commentators raised it during the race however I hope someone looks at that aspect to ensure that treatment like that is never seen again!
its such a real tragedy when a promising young sportsperson dies at such a tender age, despite the fact that he was doing what he loved doing. my sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues. my heart also goes out to scott and alex, they need our prayers and support as well during this tragic time. rest in peace shoya
Motorcycle racing provides us all with the thrills and spills we as spectators crave in a sport. An tragic incident like this reminds us all that these guys are riding right on very edge. They don't have to do it, but they do it anyway. We love and admire them for it. Sadly, some pay the ultimate price. Thoughts go out to his family and friends.
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