UPDATED – Luis Salom Dies After Catalunya Moto2 Practice Crash

Luis Salom Passes

Moto2 competitor Luis Salom, 24, died Friday, June 3, after a crash at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in his home country, MotoGP reports.

Salom, a SAG Team rider, a support class for the premier MotoGP class, passed following a crash during Free Practice 2. The incident was red flagged with 25 minutes remaining after Salom wrecked at turn 12.

MotoGP reports that two ambulances were on the scene, and though a medical helicopter was on standby, officials decided to transfer Salom to the nearby Hospital General de Catalunya due to the severeness of his injuries.

Surgeons tried their best, MotoGP reports, but were unsuccessful; Salom passed at 4:55 p.m. local time. Additional details were not available during this writing. Salom was the only rider to pass from a crash at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, and the fourth Grand Prix motorcycle racing rider to perish this century. The other Grand Prix motorcycle racing deaths were Marco Simoncelli (Oct. 23, 2011, Sepang); Shoya Tomizawa (Sept. 5, 2010, Misano); and Daijiro Kato (April 6, 2003, Suzuka).

The team at Ultimate MotorCycling offers condolences to Salom’s family and team, and everyone within the motorcycle-racing community.

Salom joined the World Championship in 2009, first racing in the 125cc class. He debuted in Jerez, also a home race for the Spaniard. Throughout his 125cc/Moto3 (transitioned in 2012), Salom earned 25 podiums, including nine race victories in Moto3.

He finished the 2012 Moto3 Championship in second, and third overall in 2013 after intense battling with fellow Spaniards Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales. Salom joined Moto2 in 2014, earning three podiums in the series to date. His best finish of 2016 was runner up at the opening round in Qatar.

UPDATED: Official Statement from Dr. Angel Charte, MotoGP Medical Director

Today (Friday, June 3), the Medical Team from the FIM MotoGP World Championship and the Medical Team of the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya reached the scene of an incident involving Spanish Moto2 rider Luis Salom at turn 12 during the second practice session for Moto2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
 
Upon arrival, the rider was in cardiac arrest. Considering the severity of his condition, the MotoGP World Championship medical team proceeded with securing the airways through orotracheal intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at trackside.
 
He was then secured with a neck brace and medical staff then introduced two intravenous lines and proceeded with chest compressions.
 
From arriving at the scene, it was quickly established that Salom was asystolic (in cardiac arrest). He was then administered with medications to cardiopulmonary and hemodynamically stabilise him.
 
CPR continued at the trackside for18 minutes, but taking into consideration Salom’s life threatening condition, a decision was taken to transport him by road in an ambulance.
 
Treatment continued for an additional 40 minutes during the ambulance transfer, but oxygen saturation deteriorated.
 
Medical staff proceeded with bilateral needle thoracostomy with air and blood aspiration. During the transfer they pre-alerted the Hospital General de Catalunya informing its ICU team about the evolution of Salom’s condition.
 
Salom arrived at the Hospital General de Catalunya at 1610 and he was immediately moved to the emergency ward where CPR continued from the medical team on site.
 
Once in the Hospital General de Catalunya, Salom was moved to theatre to undergo an explorative laparotomy from the surgical team.
 
The patient was declared deceased at 1655. Both the ground evacuation procedure, transport to the Hospital General de Catalunya, and the reception at the hospital was of the highest standard.

Save