From a press release issued by John Hopkins’ publicist, amid reports that MotoGP riders are on the verge of announcing a future boycott of Honda-owned Suzuka Circuit, the wall-lined site of the crash that took Daijiro Kato’s life:

WELKOM, South Africa – As I prepare for the South African race, I can tell you there is still a great deal of sadness over the passing of Daijiro Kato. We’d all hoped against hope that he would be able to pull through; unfortunately his injuries were too severe. We are professionals and recognize that danger is a part of our sport, yet that doesn’t make the sting of death any easier to take.

Kato was a well-liked rider in the GP paddock and he had amazing skills. Our condolences go out to his family. It was heartwarming to see the outpouring of support and best wishes for Kato from fans all around the world.

There’s no question that there is an underlying distress among the riders concerning the circumstances that led to the life-ending injuries Kato suffered. Out of respect to Kato I won’t use this time and place to go into detail, but suffice to say that all the riders in the paddock are hoping there is a renewed emphasis on safety in the future.

As we move forward we will try to always remember Kato-san.

Sincerely,
John