Shoya Tomizawa dies in fall from motorbike in the San Marino Grand Prix

Despite breakneck speeds and frequent tumbles, it's easy to assume that MotoGP racing is relatively safe-- especially since the top tier of motorcycle racing has suffered only two fatalities in the last two decades, thanks mostly to the presence of state-of-the-art safety gear. But a fatal accident at this weekend's Moto2 race at the San Marino Grand Prix offered a strong reminder of the dangers of the sport. Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa lost control of his bike and was struck by two riders on the 12th lap of today's Moto2 race, which preceded the MotoGP competition. Tomizawa was treated trackside, at the circuit's medical center, and then at a nearby hospital, but eventually succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:20 pm. The death took place just one week after the unfortunate demise of 13 year-old Peter Lenz at a USGPRU event held at the Indianapolis MotoGP. Honda Racing Corporation described nineteen year-old Tomizawa in a press release as "a very popular rider in the MotoGP paddock, known for his sunny smile and determination on the racetrack."

• 2010-09-07T16:09:34+00:00
• Duration: 05:08

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