Tomizawa Honored in Aragon

Cycle News Staff | September 17, 2010

Shoya Tomizawa, the popular Japanese rider who was killed in a racing accident in Misano nearly two weeks ago, will be honored by a number of official tributes at this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix in Spain.Miniature versions of Tomizawa’s Technomag-CIP team are on display in a number of team garages with many riders wearing the number 48 on their helmets, leathers or bikes. At the request of Moto2 Championship leader Toni Elías, Tomizawa, who won the first ever Moto2 race in Qatar, will receive the Michel Métraux trophy, which recognizes the best rider in the category as selected by his peers. Tomizawa’s family will receive the award at Tomizawa’s home grand prix at Motegi, Japan in two weeks. They will also receive a memorial plaque with his number 48 on it after it was decided to retire the number from the Moto2 World Championship.The official tribute to Tomizawa will take place on Sunday, following the MotoGP warm-up session for the Gran Premio A-Style de Aragón. The MotoGP community will gather on the main start/finish straight of the circuit where a minute’s silence will be held as a final farewell to Shoya, who was laid to rest in Japan earlier this week.