Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Daijiro Kato, 26, has died from injuries suffered when he crashed during the Japan Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit two weeks ago.

Kato suffered head and spinal injuries, and had no pulse immediately after a huge crash into a wall at the Honda-owned track, located in Suzuka City. Doctors restarted Kato’s heart but from the beginning said that Kato faced long odds to survive.

Kato’s injuries motivated leading riders to call for the removal of the track from the Grand Prix calendar.

Kato is survived by his wife and two children, one a newborn.