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Shoya Tomizawa: 1990 - 2010

Official Statement on MotoGP.com

Tribute video on MotoGP.com (free to view)

Click image to read transcript of Race Direction press conference

“The entire Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team and Hiroshi Aoyama are deeply sorry about the loss of Shoya Tomizawa, who succumbed to his injuries after a crash during the Moto2 race of the Grand Prix in Misano today.”

Gabor Talmacsi – “The incident that involved Tomizawa left me speechless, this is a sad day for the paddock.”

Andrea Iannone – “Shoya’s death is a terrible event, he will always be in my heart.”

Jorge Lorenzo – “As for Shoya, it’s a huge pity because he was a good guy and a strong rider. I am so sad and I just want to say how sorry I am for his family and his friends. When this happens nothing else matters.”

Valentino Rossi – “But when something so sad like this happens everything else goes to zero and the result doesn’t matter. I’m so sorry for Shoya because he was a strong rider but above all he was very ‘sympatico.’ He was very funny, always smiling and he always had nice things to say to everyone. He was also very young with a great career ahead of him so we are all very sad.”

Herve Poncheral – “But today means nothing after the news of Shoya Tomizawa. He was an extremely exciting character and a great hope for the future and he was already somebody who was part of our world. Everybody loved him and we all feel devastated by what happened. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Ben Spies – “I want to express my  sadness at the passing of Shoya Tomizawa. My thoughts are with his  family and friends. It’s another sad loss for our sport.”

Colin Edwards – “The race doesn’t count  for much though when you hear the news about Tomizawa. My thoughts go  out to his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Julian Simon – “Like the rest of the riders I am shaken and sad about his passing”

Héctor Barberá: – “… I am speechless. I was told about it as soon as I got off the bike, and it is very difficult to take something like that in. Today’s result doesn’t really matter anymore. Shoya was a great rider who always gave his all on the bike. He was also a great person who was always smiling and with whom I got on well. I want to send my thoughts to his family and friends.”

Michael Bartholemy (Team Manager) – “We were deeply saddened by the news that Shoya Tomizawa succumbed to the injuries sustained in a crash during today’s Moto2 race. He was a respected rival and will be sorely missed in the paddock. Like everyone in the Marc VDS Racing Team, my thoughts are with his    family and friends at this time.”

Kenny Noyes – “Right now our thoughts and prayers go out to Tomizawa’s friends and family. On the track he was a real fierce competitor, a real fast guy, but round the paddock he was really nice, always joking and friendly.”