7 September 2010 / REUTERS, TOKYO
Suter Racing were “completely shattered” at the death of 19-year-old rider Shoya Tomizawa in Sunday’s Moto2 race at the San Marino Grand Prix.
Tomizawa was travelling at full speed when he fell before a corner and was smashed into by Alex de Angelis and Scott Redding, who both also tumbled but escaped serious injury. The Japanese rider died from severe chest injuries after being rushed to a local hospital. “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.” Suter insisted de Angelis and Redding had no chance of avoiding impact with Tomizawa. “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.”
