MotoGP @ Suzuka (no spoilers)

[-Fred-]

No spoilers, because i didn't even bother watching past lap 3. Lap 3, where Japanese rider Daijiro Katoh was involved in a life threatening accident. He's currently still between life and death, having been put in a coma by the doctors. It's said he has approximately 15% chances to recover.

Here's a post that can be found in MotoGP.com's forum section, i hold no disclaimer as how truthful it is.

This is a sad sad day for motorcycling. Kato had a daughter just 10 days ago, and would be 26 tomorrow.
Here's the information I have been able to gather from the Italian press (I'm italian).

Kato's condition is very serious. He is now in deep coma. Dr Costa says there is only ONE hope of saving him... Costa says Kato has a 15% chance of survival. But the real bad news is that there was a problem between his first and second vertebrae and even if he does survive he will have lost the use of his legs, arms and even breathing.. he won't be able to breathe by himself and will need a respirator at all times. He will be paralyzed from the neck down.

About his crash not much is known. There is no video. Gibernau is the only pilot to see him. Here's what he had to say:
"I broke something on my bike at the start and stopped at the pits to fix it. When I got back in the track I found myself behind Kato. I was right behind him and I was going about 250kph and I saw him start his braking and change gears. In that place all riders follow the same line, right left right. Kato instead suddenly went left. I don't know why and even the telemetry doesn't say anything. I could not believe my eyes. I saw him go suddenly left and crash into the wall at more than 200kph and I think in 4th gear. I've never seen anything like this.

Also what we know is that Kato's helmet was broken in two places and he has blood at the base of his brain.
Dr Costa also said that when kato got there he had no heartbeat and wasn't breathing. They reanimated him and put him on a respirator. He was then airlifted to the hospital.
He also said that Kato's life depends on the next few hours. he had a "catetere" (I don't know the english translation for that) apllied to his leg artery to try and lower the blood temperature to 32-33 C° and thus avoid the risks of an "edema" (again don't know how to traslate it) that could be fatal.
The doctors also said he has multiple wounds all over his body and probably has more damaged bones although so far they have only been trying to take care of his head/brain and neck and the rest will come later if he survives.

Costa also said that Kato will indergo a therapy of "barbiturici" (again no translation) to reduce his brain activity and not stress the brain, and hypothermia.

And lastly about how this happened, but it's not confirmed yet... it appears some photographer noticed that his right front brake disc had the carbonium braking strip missing while the brake pump and left disc appeared to have no damage. So his brake was probably working on the left side only which mighy explain why he suddenly went left during braking. The bike in now in the custody of Dorna officials who will investigate the crash.

Sad, sad day for motorcycle racing fans across the planet. My thoughts and prayers are with Kato-san's family.

 

[vat_man]

Man - that's much more detailed that the info that's out on the net at the moment, and to be honest much worse than the impression I was getting from the reports. It looked pretty bad - I didn't realise how bad.

I was actually watching the race at home at the time of the incident (it was Sunday afternoon here) and thought it was a bizarre place to crash - the description of the mechanical fault would certainly explain it. There was no direct footage of the incident at the time so there was no insight.

It's an awful thing, but a fact of life with motorcycle racing unfortunately...

 

[advanR]

It looks like he wont make it. Its sad. I dont follow motorcycle racing, but I know how dangerous it is.

This may sound cruel, but one guess as to what happened is suicide. If there is no possible explanation as to what caused his bike to suddenly go left, this is my only good guess. Again, not to sound cruel, but maybe his childs birth has something to do with it.

I dont know the man, so I dont know if this would be like him at all...

 

[advanR]

I didnt read the whole thing until now, it looks like a brake malfunction may be the reason. I dont know.

 

[vat_man]

This guy was no fool - he dominated the 250cc class a couple of years ago and was rated by many as Japan's best MotoGP rider this year.

 

[-Fred-]

I doubt it was a suicide move. They are inspecting his bike, or the remains of it, to see what went wrong.

It's a shame... i started to watch MotoGP last year only... i thought he could be a contender this year, because i remember him being on Rossi's heels during a few races.

 

[SandStorm]

It's a truly sad day for motorcycle racing all over the world. My thoughts go out to Daijiro's family and, of course, Daijiro himself. I'm sitting here typing this in shock, because it makes me realise, once again, how vulnerable racing drivers/riders are to serious bodily harm.

I knew he arrested in the ambulance on the way to the hospital chopper, and is now in a coma on life support, but 15% is extremely bad. I hope he pulls through, but it doesn't look good at this stage.

Best of luck to him and his family.

 

[-Fred-]

Telefonica Movistar Honda press release about Kato's condition.

Team Telefonica Movistar Honda have today made the following statement about the condition of their rider Daijiro Kato:

The Team Telefonica Movistar Honda informs that rider Daijiro Kato has spent the night in the intensive care unit of the Mie Medical Center in Yokkaichi, where he arrived on Sunday the 6th April, after being involved in the terrible accident at the Suzuka Circuit. The Hospital has not made any official medical statement yet, but the Japanese doctors have informed that there has been a slight improvement in Daijiro's condition.

The Team Manager Fausto Gresini, who joined his rider at the Hospital right after the accident occurred, said: “We all keep on praying for Daijiro, it is the only thing we can do now; there is nothing we can say, just wait and see what happen”. Also joining Fausto Gresini at the Hospital is Daijiro Kato's wife, his chief mechanic Fabrizio Cecchini and the team's commercial director Carlo Merlini, who all wish to stay close to Daijiro during these dramatic moments.

The team, is awaiting for further news from the hospital´s medical team as well some information on what could have caused the terrible accident: they will remain close to their rider and inform of any improvement of Daijiro´s state.
Fausto Gresini has added that he will go and check the zone of the circuit where the Japanese rider crashed on Sunday.

 

[SandStorm]

...but the Japanese doctors have informed that there has been a slight improvement in Daijiro's condition.

That is brilliant news, lets hope that Kato pulls through. 👍

 

[-Fred-]

http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/V3/L0/S39/E5403/sport_Lng0_Spo39_Evt5403_Sto421852.shtml

May he rest in peace. Sayonara, Kato-san.

 

[vat_man]

Well said, PunkRock.

It's times like these you appreciate how dangerous motorsport actually is.

 

[Hell Patrol]

ah

 

[kivran]

It may seem a little pointless to ask now ... now that this tragedy has been played out ... but apparently there was an amateur video released to the media (of the crash, that is) ... has anyone seen it? Does it explain anything?

Are they retiring #74 from any future MotoGP?

 

[viperman]

this type of stuff has happened at willow springs.. guy was going atleast 200 into turn 1 and lost his brakes my mom made me turn away


btw RIP Kato-San