Post
by Everso Biggyballies » 1 year ago
15 years ago on April 20th 2003 we lost Motorcycling star Daijiro Kato.
Daijiro had succumbed to an accident he had suffered at Suzuka some 2 weeks earlier at the Japanese MotoGP round, when he lost control and hit the wall near the Casio Triangle chicane of the circuit at around 125 mph. He remained in a coma for the two weeks before he passed away. The cause of death was listed as brain stem infarction.
The officials were widely criticised at the time for not red flagging the race, leaving track marshalls to remove Kato from the track on a stretcher for medical attention whilst the race continued unabated. In the process of being moved by the marshalls it is possible further injury was suffered as his head, although supported was seen to "droop markedly" in the transportation to the side of the track.
There has not been a Grand Prix motorcycle race held at Suzuka following Kato's crash.
The FIM retired Kato's number, and the bike number 74 has not been used by any rider since. The FIM named him a Grand Prix "Legend"
Racing highlights
1993
All Kyushu Area Championship: SP250, GP125, GP250 classes.
Ranking: Championship winner in all 3 classes.
1994
All Japan Road Race Championship: GP250 class.
First win at round 9 at TI Circuit in Aida, Okayama.
Ranking: Seventh.
1995
All Japan Road Race Championship: GP250 class.
Ranking: Fifth.
1996
All Japan Road Race Championship: GP250 class.
Ranking: Second.
Kato participated as a wild card rider at the world grand prix championship GP250 race in Japan and finished third.
1997
All Japan Road Race Championship: GP250 class.
Ranking: Championship winner.
Kato again participated as a wild card rider at the world grand prix championship GP250 race in Japan and won the race.
Kato raced the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan and finished ninth.
1998
All Japan Road Race Championship: GP250 class.
Ranking: Eighth.
Kato again participated as a wild card rider at the world grand prix championship GP250 race in Japan and won the race a second time.
1999
All Japan Road Race Championship: GP250 class.
Ranking: Second.
2000
Grand Prix World Championship: GP250 class.
Ranking: Third.
Kato was awarded the Rookie-of-the-Year prize in the GP250 class.
Kato, teaming with fellow Japanese rider Tohru Ukawa, won the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan.
2001
Grand Prix World Championship: GP250 class.
Ranking: Championship winner.
Kato set a new grand prix world record by winning 11 races throughout the 2001 season. He was also recognized for his efforts to the public by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science and Technology.
2002
Grand Prix World Championship: MotoGP/500cc class.
Ranking: Seventh.
Kato was awarded the Rookie-of-the-Year prize in the MotoGP/500cc class.
Kato, this time teaming with American rider Colin Edwards, won the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan for a second time.
2003
Grand Prix World Championship: MotoGP class.
*My woman cant wrestle. But you should see her box!*
*I married Miss Right. Just didn't know her first name was Always