16 Facts About Daijiro Kato

Daijiro Kato was a Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, the 2001 250cc world champion, and the 2000 and 2002 Suzuka 8 Hours winner.

Daijiro Kato died as a result of injuries sustained after a crash during the 2003 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, Japan.

Daijiro Kato began road racing in 1992, and entered his first Grand Prix in 1996, as a wild-card rider.

In spite of these successes, Daijiro Kato did not ride his first full Grand Prix season until 2000, when he started in the 250cc, riding a Honda.

Daijiro Kato won four races that season, and placed third in the championship.

Daijiro Kato finished all the races in the 2000 Season In 2001, he dominated the 250cc championship.

Daijiro Kato won no fewer than 11 races, a record in 250cc and still stands today after the class became Moto2, and easily won the title.

Daijiro Kato took pole at his home race at Twin Ring Motegi.

For 2003, Daijiro Kato remained at the Gresini Racing team, now with sponsorship from Telefonica Movistar brought by new teammate Sete Gibernau joining from Suzuki.

On 6 April 2003, during the first race of the MotoGP season at the Japanese Grand Prix held at the Suzuka Circuit, Daijiro Kato crashed hard and sustained severe head, neck and chest injuries.

The Accident Investigation Committee determined that Daijiro Kato crashed when he lost control of his motorcycle, which entered a near high-side state, followed by an uncontrollable oscillating weave resulting in his leaving the track and striking the barrier.

Daijiro Kato was thrown back onto the track after hitting the barriers and was lying next to the racing line.

Daijiro Kato's crash was the first fatal accident to occur during a Grand Prix motorcycle racing race session at Suzuka Circuit; his was the last motorsport fatal crash at the circuit until Jules Bianchi at the 2014 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix.

However, when the stretcher was moved Daijiro Kato's head drooped markedly, and it cannot be denied that this might have additionally injured his neck.

Daijiro Kato spent two weeks in a coma following the accident before dying as a result of the injuries he sustained.

Satoshi Motoyama, a fellow Japanese racer driving in the Super GT and a childhood friend of Daijiro Kato had the latter's racing number on his helmet ever since Daijiro Kato's death.