Moto2 Tragedy
A deepening sadness swept the entire MotoGP paddock in Misano on the news that Shoya Tomizawa had passed away following a multi-bike crash in the Moto2 race.
Scott Redding was lucky to escape serious injury from the same crash as he was treated in the circuit medical centre immediately after the crash, receiving ten stitches in a laceration to his back.
The third motorcycle racer involved, San Marino rider Alex De Angelis (JIR Moto2, Motobi) was able to walk away from the incident.
Many passed on their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Shoya Tomizawa, who will be greatly missed in the MotoGP / Moto2 paddock.
Honda Moto2 Team says: “The entire HondaProRacing Team are deeply sorry about the loss of Shoya Tomizawa, who succumbed to his injuries after a crash today during the Moto2 race of the Grand Prix in Misano. Our thoughts are with his Team, Friends and family.”
Michael Bartholemy (Marc VDS Racing Team) says: “We were deeply saddened by the news that Shoya Tomizawa succumbed to the injuries sustained in a crash during today’s Moto2 race. He was a respected rival and will be sorely missed in the paddock. Like everyone in the Marc VDS Racing Team, my thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
Randy De Puniet says: “I do not want to speak about me and my race. This weekend ended in the most horrible way. My thoughts go to Shoya and his family”.
Herve Poncharal (Tech3 Team Manager) says: “Today means nothing after the news of Shoya Tomizawa. He was an extremely exciting character and a great hope for the future and he was already somebody who was part of our world. Everybody loved him and we all feel devastated by what happened. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Ben Spies says: “I want to express my sadness at the passing of Shoya Tomizawa. My thoughts are with his family and friends. It’s another sad loss for our sport.”
Colin Edwards says: “The race doesn’t count for much though when you hear the news about Tomizawa. My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Tech3 Yamaha says: “Firstly, on behalf of everyone at Tech 3 Yamaha, I’d like to send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Shoya Tomizawa. He was a great talent and a really good guy who will be missed by all of us in the racing community. ”
Toni Elias says: “All I feel is sadness right now and my victory today is irrelevant. I was talking and joking with Tomizawa only yesterday in the Clinica Mobile and to think that he is no longer with us is truly awful. Even today we were out there racing together when he was in front of me before this incredible tragedy. He has left an indelible mark on my life.”
Tatsuya Yamaguchi says: “I have so much sadness in my heart. That is the only thing I can bring myself to say.”
Hiroshi Yasukawa (Director, Bridgestone Motorsport) says: “Today is a very sad day as we lost a great young Japanese rider, a wonderful character and a shining light who was so young in his motorcycle racing career. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tomizawa-san’s family and friends at this tragic time. His memory shall remain bright in our hearts.”
Tohru Ubukata (Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Development Department) says: ” I am deeply saddened, as are we all, about the passing of the young and talented Tomizawa-san today. It was a terrible accident and a tragic loss of life and our hearts go out to those who knew him and loved him.”
Marco Melandri says: “There is nothing I have to say about today’s race. It is a tragic day.”
Marco Simoncelli says: “There is not much to say – it’s been a tough day and the race is insignificant. Two tragedies in a week is too much. Last Sunday a boy of just thirteen and today Tomizawa, who was only nineteen. Unfortunately this is the risk of racing motorcycles but when something like this happens it is simply terrible and I feel so sorry.”
Fausto Gresini says: “Today is a very sad and very tough day, when racing doesn’t feel like it should. I know just how hard it is to lose a rider in these circumstances and I know the pain that his family and all the guys on the team who worked with him are feeling right now.”
“There is little more to say. This is an extremely sad day. We knew immediately that the incident was serious but you always hope at times like this that there will be a miracle and the rider will get to his feet. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case today.”
Casey Stoner says: “I am deeply saddened for Tomizawa, his family and everybody who worked with him. It is something truly terrible and it left me breathless, like a week ago. It was a pleasure to watch him ride and I was looking forward to see him have a great career.”
Nicky Hayden says: “I am really sad, we have lost two riders in two weekends. My thoughts are with his family and his team but I think the whole paddock has been hit hard by this tragedy. At the end of the day we are all brothers here. We have lost a talented kid with a great personality. I loved his style, his determination and the smile he always wore.”
Aleix Espargarò says: “There is nothing to say on a day like this. One of our family is gone.”
Mika Kallio says: “Is a sad day today, for everyone.”
Álvaro Bautista says: “I heard the news about Tomizawa and I am just so sorry for him and all his family. It is a hard day for all riders, I am sure he will stay with us always and I hope he is now in a better place.”
Loris Capirossi says: “I want to send my condolences to Tomizawa’s family, this is a great tragedy and something that you never like to hear about.”
Tom O’Kane (Álvaro Bautista’s Crew Chief ) says: “I want to say to Tomizawa’s family and friends that we all send our deepest sympathies.”
Jorge Lorenzo says: “It’s a huge pity because he was a good guy and a strong rider. I am so sad and I just want to say how sorry I am for his family and his friends. When this happens nothing else matters.”
Valentino Rossi says: “I’m so sorry for Shoya because he was a strong rider but above all he was very ‘sympatico.’ He was very funny, always smiling and he always had nice things to say to everyone. He was also very young with a great career ahead of him so we are all very sad.”
Wilco Zeelenberg says: “We would like to say how sorry we are about Tomizawa, he was clearly a huge talent who was destined to be here in MotoGP one day. This is the nature of our sport but today has reminded us all what can happen.”
Interwetten Team says:” The entire Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team and Hiroshi Aoyama are deeply sorry about the loss of Shoia Tomizawa, who succumbed to his injuries after a crash during the Moto2 race of the Grand Prix in Misano today.”
Shuhei Nakamoto (Vice-President, Honda Racing Corporation) says: “We are very saddened by this news and our thoughts of course are now with Shoya’s family and friends. He was at the start of his Grand Prix career and today we have lost fine young rider and a talent for the future. Shoya had fighting spirit, we will all miss him very much.”
Kenny Notes says: “Right now our thoughts and prayers go out to Tomizawa’s friends and family. On the track he was a real fierce competitor, a real fast guy, but round the paddock he was really nice, always joking and friendly. I got to do a few Arlen Ness events with him, and though I didn’t know him very well, it’s just terrible. What happened with Peter Lenz at Indianapolis and Tomizawa here at Misano reminds us all that this is a dangerous sport; it’s beautiful but dangerous also, and this is the darker side of it.”
Andrea Dovizioso says: “My thoughts are with Shoya Tomizawa. I was informed after the race and 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 commission has improved safety levels so much that we often forget this aspect. I’m so sorry for Tomizawa’s family. Having become a father I can understand that this is the worst thing that can happen for a family. Unfortunately we couldn’t do anything: these were two casualties, two accidents with a similar dynamic where the track-side barriers were not touched. This can happen and this is why our job is so risky.”
Dani Pedrosa says: “Still with my helmet on they told me about Tomizawa and I couldn’t react. It was a big shock, a big contrast for me. I asked three times if it was true because I couldn’t believe it. It’s so sad, terrible, and these things should never happen. As a person I can only say that 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 fast and brave. To lose two riders in a week is terrible.”
“I believe everybody in the World Championship is feeling the same now and I want to send my condolences to the family. When you are born, life gives you the chance to choose what you want to do. Tomi chose to be a rider and in fact he was doing great. I just want to think that he’s been happy making his dream come true.”
Steve Bones (FTR Moto Team Manager) says: “Everyone at FTR Moto, like the GP paddock, is totally stunned by the news regarding Shoya. This is a very sad and tragic accident and we can only offer our thoughts to his family and hope they are proud of the very exciting talent that Shoya clearly brought to the World Championship.”
Héctor Barberá says: “After learning about what has happened to Tomizawa, I am speechless. I was told about it as soon as I got off the bike, and it is very difficult to take something like that in. Today’s result doesn’t really matter anymore. Shoya was a great rider who always gave his all on the bike. He was also a great person who was always smiling and with whom I got on well. I want to send my thoughts to his family and friends.”
Alex De Angelis says: “I am deeply sad for what happened to Shoya. I am close to his family and to all who loved him. For the time being I do not want to add anything else. In times like these, everything else becomes less important.”