Tomizawa death shows that motorcycling remains a risky sport

By Gerald Fritsche Sep 6, 2010, 12:16 GMT

Leipzig, Germany - The death of Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa at the San Marino Moto2 Grand Prix showed that motorcycling remains a risky sport despite all improved safety measures.

But many on Monday also condemned race organizers for not showing any mark of respect.

The Moto2 race was completed despite the accident and the ensuing MotoGP race also went ahead as planned along awith all ceremonies.

'You can not hide behind a false morale. Races are dangerous and the risk is part of it ... (But) Why didn't they stop the victory ceremony. That would have been a gesture of respect,' said Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Il Giornale said that 'no one had the courage to stop the race.'

Tomizawa, 19, crashed in the 12th lap of the race in Misano and died in a hospital of injuries sustained when he was run over by the following riders Alex de Angelis of Italy and Scott Redding of Britain.

Tomizawa was the first MotoGP rider to die since compatriot Daijiro Kato at the Suzuka home race in 2003. But last weekend American Peter Lenz, 13, died in Indianapolis when he was run over by a 12-year-old rival after falling in the warmup lap for a junior race.

Spanish paper El Periodico de Catalunya said that no one could escape Sunday's tragedy.

'Even the winners left Misano with tears in their eyes. They know that it could be them as well at the next race in two weeks,' it said.

The AS sports daily said 'the accident was simply bad luck. No one can be accused of neglect or making mistakes' as none of the improved safety measures could save the young man.

Equipment companies have tried for decades to make motorcycling safer. Riders now have various paddings and protectors in their suit to cushion the impact of a crash at more than 200kph. Airbags are also used and the HANS head and neck safety device from Formula One racing has also reached the motorcycling circuit.

The measures have proven successful. There was no death in seven years until Sunday and the majority of 507 crashes in the 2010 season alone went without major injuries.

Dario Artico, spokesman of Italian racesuit makers Dainese, said that the chest and abdomen remain the most critical areas in the case of crashes.

But he also said: 'Of course we would like to have 100 per cent protection for the motorcycle racers. But wouldn't all riders feel invincible and act like Superman?'