BY HENRY MHARA
Motorcross sensation Tanya Muzinda has paid tribute to Jason Dupasquier, a Moto3 rider who died from injuries sustained in a qualifying crash at the weekend.
The Swiss rider died in hospital from injuries he sustained in a three-bike crash during Saturday’s qualifying session in Italy.
Dupasquier (19), was struck by another bike after she fell and slid along the track at the Mugello Circuit.
He was flown to a Florence hospital.
“Despite the best efforts of circuit medical staff and all those subsequently attending to the Swiss rider . . . Dupasquier has sadly succumbed to his injuries,” MotoGP said.
It added: “On behalf of the entire MotoGP family, we send our love to his team, his family and loved ones. You will be sorely missed, Jason. Ride in peace.”
Sixteen-year-old talented Zimbabwean motocross rider Muzinda, who is the first female in local motorcross history to have won a championship race, yesterday joined the rest of the world in paying tribute to Dupasquier.
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“Motorsport can be cruel,” she posted on her Twitter page. “After I collected maximum points in my two classes during round 11, keeping me as the series race leader, my celebrations were cut short as I got very disturbing and sad news that the same afternoon I was racing, another young rider in MotoGP died in a multi-rider crash during a qualifying race. My heart goes to his family, his racing team and the entire motorsport family. Ride well Jason #RIPJason.”
The MotoGP grid held a minute’s silence before Sunday’s Grand Prix.
France’s Fabio Quartararo, who won the race, dedicated his victory to Dupasquier, while he and the other two riders to finish on the podium — Portugal’s Miguel Oliveira and Spain’s Joan Mir — held up the Swiss flag in tribute.
Prustel GP, his team, posted: “We’re devastated, and at this time all of our thoughts are with Jason’s family. You’ll be sorely missed and never forgotten.”
He was treated by medical staff for more than 30 minutes on the track as the session was red-flagged, before he was airlifted to Careggi Hospital.
Fellow Swiss rider Tom Luthi decided not to race in the MotoGP 2 race on Sunday and went to the hospital to be close to Dupasquier’s family, said his SAG Racing Team.
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