Daijiro Kato

Daijiro Katō (Japanese加藤 大 治郎, Katō Daijiro; born July 4, 1976 in Urawa (now Saitama ), Saitama Prefecture, Japan, † 20 April 2003 in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan ) was a Japanese motorcycle racer.

Career

Daijiro Kato's career began at the age of three years on a pocket bike, he played with five years and won his first race at age 16 his first Grand Prix in the 250 cc class of the Motorcycle World Championship. 1996, 1997 and 1998, he played so-called wildcard appearances in the World Cup; while he won two races and achieved a third place. He was championship runner-up in the " All Japan Championship" in 1999.

In 2000 he was a regular beginners in the 250 cc class already World Cup bronze medalist and won the Grand Prix in Suzuka, Estoril, Rio de Janeiro and Motegi. He was with his Honda NSR 250 superior world champion in the 250 cc class in 2001.

In 2002, he rose in the MotoGP class, took the losing Honda NSR 500 to seventh place overall and was simultaneously "Rookie of the Year" ( newcomer of the year).

In the 2003 season Katō received by Honda RC211V with the competitive material. In the season opener on April 6, 2003 in Suzuka he fell in the third round at the Casio Triangle chicane Directions to the front of the start - finish straight. The machine hurled at around 190 km / h sharply to the left into a one meter off the track standing concrete wall. Kato was seriously injured and catapulted back onto the track with geborstenem helmet, but could be recovered by marshals in time for the arrival of the following drivers. He died about 13 days later, on the night of April 20 2003, at the Central Hospital of Yokkaichi without waking from a coma before. Katō left next to his wife, two children - a son and then only twelve -day-old daughter.

About the cause of the accident, there is no unique representation; depending on the source of a driving error (too late braking after the fast left-hander 130R ) or a mechanical defect is spoken. The route was no longer used after this accident for motorcycle World Championship races.

Sporting successes

• All Japan Road Race Championship: 7th place first win

• All Japan Road Race Championship: 5th place at Honda NSR 250 (2 wins )

• 250 cc World Championships: 3rd place wildcard use in Suzuka
• All Japan Road Race Championship: 2nd place in the Honda NSR 250 (5 wins )

• 250 cc World Championships: 1st place wildcard use in Suzuka
• All Japan Road Race Championship: 1st place on Honda NSR 250 ( 8 wins )

• 250 cc World Championships: 1st place wildcard use in Suzuka
• All Japan Road Race Championship: 8th place at Honda NSR 250

• All Japan Road Race Championship: 2nd place in Honda NSR 250 (5 wins )

• 8- hour race at Suzuka: Winner with Tōru Ukawa on Honda VTR1000SPW
• 250 cc World Championships: 3rd place in Honda NSR 250, 259 points (4 wins, 9 podiums, 3 pole positions, 1 fastest lap )
• 250 cc World Cup: Rookie of the Year

• 250 cc World Championships: 1st place on Honda NSR 250, 322 points ( 11 wins, 13 podiums, 6 pole positions, 9 fastest laps )

• 8- hour race at Suzuka: Winner with Colin Edwards on Honda VTR1000SPW
• MotoGP: 7th place on Honda NSR 500, 117 points (2 podiums, 1 pole position, one fastest lap )
• MotoGP: Rookie of the Year