The video of Daijiro Kato crash has again gone popular, almost 20 years after his death
Here’s what we know about the motorbike rider from Japan who died in an accident.
Daijiro Kato was a skilled Japanese motorbike racer who got his start in 1995 in the All Japan Road Race Championship. Then, in 1996, he went up to the 250cc World Championship, which he won in 2001. Kato rode for the Honda works team in the MotoGP World Championship in 2002. In 2002, at the Japanese Grand Prix, he won his first MotoGP race. He ended the season in fifth place overall.
Crash video of Daijiro Kato 2003 accident resurfaces on YouTube
Tragic accident at Japanese Motorbike Grand Prix that took life of Daijiro Kato
During the first race of the 2003 Japanese motorbike Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, Kato was in a terrible accident at a high speed. Kato fell off his bike on the fifth lap of the race and hit the safety fence at Turn 10. Kato’s head and neck were badly hurt in the crash, so he was taken to the hospital right away by helicopter for emergency care.
Today we remember Daijiro Kato
The 250cc World Champion passed away 20 years ago today but he will always remain in our thoughts and hearts ❤️#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/mtNzSlXNEm
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 20, 2023
Even though the medical staff did everything they could, Kato stayed in serious condition and died on April 20, 2003, from the injuries she got in the crash. Kato died when he was only 26 years old, and his death shocked the racing world. Fans and other riders were saddened by his death.
People are still looking at Daijiro Kato’s crash video on the internet, almost 20 years after he died. They want to know more about what happened. In the video, Kato hits the wall near the Casio Triangle chicane at about 125 mph (200 km/h).
Investigation and aftermath of Daijiro Kato’s fatal motorbike accident
The Accident Investigation Committee says that Kato lost control of his motorbike, which went into a close-to-high-side state and then an unpredictable oscillation weave, causing him to leave the track and hit the barrier.
Remembering the great Daijiro Kato, who we lost 20 years ago today.
Never forgotten ❤️#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/3Gjy9gwCsd
— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) April 20, 2023
Kato and the bike ran through a tyre barrier first, and then they ran through a foam barrier. Kato was hurt badly when his head hit the edge of the foam barrier in the space between the tyre and the foam barrier. This caused his cervical spine and the base of his brain to move out of place.
Just after the accident, people were worried about how the staff at the spot was acting. Kato was lying next to the starting line after crashing into the barriers and being thrown back onto the track. Kato was in a coma for almost two weeks after the crash before his injuries killed him. His death was said to have been caused by a stroke in the brain stem.
Remembering Daijiro Kato on this day.#Legend pic.twitter.com/RYpfhi5VmN
— Vermin The Warriors (@warriors_vermin) April 19, 2023
Daijiro Kato’s death was a tragedy that shocked the racing world. As a result, safety rules and tools in the MotoGP sport were changed in a big way. Kato will always be remembered for what he did and what he left behind in the racing world.