The MotoGP moves to South Africa under a dark cloud this week, with most of the riders’ thoughts with Daijiro Kato, who died on Sunday from injuries suffered in the first round at Suzuka.
The MotoGP moves to Phakisa in South Africa this week under a dark cloud, with most of the riders’ thoughts with Daijiro Kato, who died on Sunday from injuries suffered in the first round at Suzuka.
Kato was buried during a private ceremony at the Kaneiji temple in Tokyo in Japan on Tuesday.
World champion Valentino Rossi told he hoped lessons had been learnt from the horrific accident.
“I said after the race at Suzuka that nothing was really important after hearing the news of Kato. I was shocked then and am greatly saddened now,” said Rossi. “Our thoughts are with Kato’s family and friends and we can only hope that the whole GP world learns something from this very bad situation and acts on it.”
“It is difficult to think about racing now that we have heard this news about Kato,” said Davide Brivio, team director of the Fortuna Yamaha Team. “We hope they can find the strength to continue.”
“We rode together when we were kids and we were just chatting before the race. It is incredible. I just cannot get used to the idea,” said close friend Norick Abe.
It is believed the riders will meet this weekend to discuss safety issues and the possibility of appointing a rider representative to work with the organising body, FIM.