Moto2 rider Shoya Tomizawa dies after San Marino crash

[Elano]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/RIZnAVz6ZJU" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/RIZnAVz6ZJU</a>

The 19-year-old, from Japan, came off his Technomag-CIP bike when under pressure from Italy's Alex de Angelis.

Neither De Angelis nor British rider Scott Redding were able to avoid hitting Tomizawa, who was propelled off the track into the gravel.

Tomizawa was treated at the circuit and then taken to the Riccione Hospital on the Adriatic coast where he died.

He had completed 15 laps of the Misano circuit before the accident, which happened in dry conditions.

A statement on the MotoGP website said Tomizawa sustained fatal cranial, thoracic and abdominal injuries.

It added: "Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Shoya's family and friends at this tragic loss."

Dani Pedrosa, who won the MotoGP race held after Tomizawa's, told BBC Sport: "I have a big hole here, everything is empty. I feel so strange."

And MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi stated he had seen the "terrifying" crash on television.

"I understand from the first moment it was bad," said the Italian. "But then you have to try to concentrate in the race. When it happens like this, all the rest is nothing."

Tomizawa's death follows that of 13-year-old Peter Lenz in a warm-up event ahead of the Indianapolis MotoGP on 29 August. He also crashed and was hit by another rider.

Prior to this weekend, Japan's Daijiro Kato was the last MotoGP rider to die after an accident. He crashed during the first race of the 2003 season at Suzuka and died following two weeks in a coma.

Tomizawa was in only his second season in the MotoGP world championships and had won the Moto2 Qatar Grand Prix, which opened the new season. He had been in seventh position in the overall standings.

Redding was taken to hospital after Sunday's crash but is not thought to be seriously injured. The race was won by Toni Elias of Spain.

Moto2 is the new name for the 250cc racing category between MotoGP and 125cc.

[MistaNova]

R.I.P. dude had his whole life ahead of him, .