Jason Dupasquier, a 19-year-old Moto3 rider from Switzerland, has died after a serious multi-rider motorcycle accident during the Moto3 Qualifying Season for the Italy Grand Prix.
“Following a serious incident in the Moto3 Qualifying 2 session at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, it is with great sadness that we report the passing of Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier,” MotoGP said in a statement.
“Dupasquier was involved in a multi-rider incident between Turns 9 and 10, with the session Red Flagged thereafter. FIM Medical Intervention Vehicles arrived at the site immediately and the Swiss rider was attended to on track before being transferred by medical helicopter, in a stable state, to Careggi Hospital in Florence.”
Dupasquier suffered serious brain damage following the crash and underwent chest surgery for a vascular lesion, AFP reported a hospital spokesman saying on Saturday. However, he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
"Despite the best efforts of circuit medical staff and all those subsequently attending to the Swiss rider, the hospital has announced that Dupasquier has sadly succumbed to his injuries," the Careggi Hospital in Florence said.
His team, Pruestel GP, pulled out of its race scheduled for Sunday.
Fabio Quartararo, who went on to win Sunday's race, paid tribute to Dupasquier during his race, holding up the Swiss flag on the podium.
A poignant moment as @FabioQ20 pays his respects to Jason Dupasquier at Arrabbiata 2 ❤️#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/IaizVzvovf
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 30, 2021
This was MotoGP’s first fatality since Luis Salom died during practice at the Catalonia Moto2 Grand Prix in Barcelona in 2016.
