Moto rider Shoya Tomizawa dies after shocking crash in San Marino



A Japanese Moto2 rider has died after suffering a horrific crash during the San Marino Grand Prix.

Shoya Tomizawa, 19, was travelling at full speed when he fell off on a corner and was hit violently by the bikes of Alex De Angelis and Scott Redding, who both also tumbled but looked relatively unhurt.

Suter rider Tomizawa had completed 15 laps of the Misano circuit before his crash in dry conditions.



Crash: Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa lies injured at the trackside after he was propelled over 40 metres off the track into the gravel during the Italian Moto2 motorcycling race at Santa Monica. He died later in hospital

Horror: Spectators look on in shock just moments after Shoya Tomizawa (left) fell off on a corner and was hit violently by the bikes of Alex De Angelis and Scott Redding. It is unclear who the rider on the right is

Tragic: Shoya Tomizawa pictured last April

He was immediately taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries at 2.20pm local time.

Dr Claudio Costa, part of the motorcycling world championship's medical team, told reporters the news.



Riders in the premier MotoGP class were also informed after their race.



World champion Valentino Rossi said: 'I found out now, when things like this happen nothing else matters. He was a lovely guy. It was a horrible accident.'

Tomizawa, who started pocket bike racing at the age of just three in 1994, has previously ridden in the 125cc class.

He won earlier this season in Qatar and was seventh in the overall standings.



The Moto2 race continued, and was won by Spain's Toni Elias.

Spain's Dani Pedrosa later won the MotoGP, but admitted he was in no mood to celebrate following the tragic news.

'Now my head is away from the race. There are no words,' he said.

'For the race everything was perfect but now I'm totally shocked.'