Bike firm mourns Tomizawa death

Tomizawa was in only his second season of MotoGP

Bike manufacturers Suter Racing are mourning the loss of rider Shoya Tomizawa, who died in Sunday's Moto2 race in San Marino.

Tomizawa came off his bike at the Misano circuit while under pressure from Italy's Alex de Angelis.

And neither De Angelis nor British rider Scott Redding were able to avoid hitting the Japanese 19-year-old.

"Shoya was more than a friend. He was like a family member," Suter Racing's CEO Eskil Suter said in a statement.

"He was loved by everybody in the paddock and I am terribly sorry for his family and his team who suffered this tragic loss."

Tomizawa, who rode for the Technomag-CIP team, had completed 15 laps of the Misano circuit before the accident, which happened in dry conditions.

He was treated at the circuit before being taken to the Riccione Hospital on the Adriatic coast where he died.

606: DEBATE Pay tribute to Tomizawa

Suter insisted de Angelis and Redding had no chance of avoiding Tomizawa, who was propelled off the track and on to the gravel by the impact, while they also came off their bikes.

Both Redding and Tomizawa used Suter as their bike manufacturer.

"I also feel sorry for De Angelis and our rider Scott Redding," said Suter. "After the initial suspicion of a fractured pelvis, Scott was cleared of serious injuries.

"But mentally he is completely shattered even though nothing that happened was his fault. Today was a sad reminder that racing remains dangerous despite all improvements in track safety."

Tomizawa was in only his second season in the MotoGP world championships and won the Moto2 race at the Qatar Grand Prix, which opened the new season.

He had been in seventh position in the overall standings prior to Sunday's race, which was eventually won by Spain's Toni Elias.

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

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