Kato Condition Update

[Winther]

Got this from the MCN board.

Daijira Kato Update
I have gotten this from a friend on the Colin Edwards boards who lives in Italy. Below is the information given to the Italian media by the FIM, Sete Gibernau and Dr.Costa regarding the condition of Dijira Kato. It's not good news and I wasn't even sure whether to post this but we all know the risks of the sport so it is news albeit bad.


This is a sad sad day for motorcycling. Kato had a daughter just 10 days ago, and would be 26 tomorrow.
Here's the information I have been able to gather from the Italian press.

Kato's condition is very serious. He is now in deep coma. Dr Costa says there is only ONE hope of saving him... Costa says Kato has a 15% chance of survival. But the real bad news is that there was a problem between his first and second vertebrae and even if he does survive he will have lost the use of his legs, arms and even breathing.. he won't be able to breathe by himself and will need a respirator at all times. He will be paralyzed from the neck down. A similar condition to actor Christopher Reeves.
About his crash not much is known. There is no video. Gibernau is the only pilot to see him. Here's what he had to say:
"I broke something on my bike at the start and stopped at the pits to fix it. When I got back in the track I found myself behind Kato. I was right behind him and I was going about 250kph and I saw him start his braking and change gears. In that place all riders follow the same line, right left right. Kato instead suddenly went left. I don't know why and even the telemetry doesn't say anything. I could not believe my eyes. I saw him go suddenly left and crash into the wall at more than 200kph and I think in 4th gear. I've never seen anything like this.
It's crazy to crash into a wall in 2003 as has happened to Melandri, Barros, Poggiali and Ukawa.. Cecchinello was lucky but he got really close to the guardrail at full speed in the straight. We can no longer race here at Suzuka and everyone has to understand this. I don't want to race here again. it would be crazy".

Also what we know is that Kato's helmet was broken in two places and he has blood at the base of his brain.
Dr Costa also said that when kato got there he had no heartbeat and wasn't breathing. They reanimated him and put him on a respirator. He was then airlifted to the hospital.
He also said that Kato's life depends on the next few hours. he had a "catetere" (I don't know the english translation for that) apllied to his leg artery to try and lower the blood temperature to 32-33 C° and thus avoid the risks of an "edema" (again don't know how to traslate it) that could be fatal.
The doctors also said he has multiple wounds all over his body and probably has more damaged bones although so far they have only been trying to take care of his head/brain and neck and the rest will come later if he survives.

Costa also said that Kato will indergo a therapy of "barbiturici" (again no translation) to reduce his brain activity and not stress the brain, and hypothermia.

And lastly about how this happened, but it's not confirmed yet... it appears some photographer noticed that his right front brake disc had the carbonium braking strip missing while the brake pump and left disc appeared to have no damage. So his brake was probably working on the left side only which mighy explain why he suddenly went left during braking. The bike in now in the custody of Dorna officials who will investigate the crash.

End

Personally if it were me I would rather go knowing that I died doing something I loved rather than live life on a respirator totally paralysed, this is only my opinion and I'm sure some would disagree. There has got to be an immediate inquiry into all aspects of this event and if I were a rider even though life goes on I would want to know this brake problem isn't a design fault that could affect me or fellow riders. Considering the problems with the vertebrae Dr.Costa mentions being bundled onto a ****ing stretcher by a dumb arse marshall wouldn't have helped. **** I'm angry about this. Please let there be some hope for him in the next 24 hours.

Tobe.

Borrowed from Tobe at MCN.

[DavidStHubbins]

They did hurl him pretty hurriedly onto the stretcher although there were bikes about to arrive on the scene at 200kmh. I cant believe it really. Only yesterday I was thinking about if a young Formula One driver died he would become a timeless legend that never got to show his hand. Sadly this has befallen Kato. Reading Kenny Roberts jr's account of the accident sends shivers down my spine. Horrific. Suzuka should be binned for bikes now as so many riders seem to say the same thing. Great, great track but too dangerous.

[f1manoz]

After what happened this weekend, I wonder if they'll have a serious rethink about racing at Suzuka...

I haven't heard that news asha, but I'll keep my ear to the ground. That is something I don't know if I could post...

[GTRMagic]

It doesnt seem to be on any of the official sites... maybe we should keep keeping our fingers crossed

[Plendor]

if they do race at suzuka again i wonder if the riders will refuse to actually go through with the race due to this years events...

[Gerrit]

When I saw the wreckage on Eurosport and heard about Katoh having crashed, I immediately was reminded of Wayne Rainey.
But this is far worse. It does not look good at all, and for Katoh himself perhaps death is much better than living as a vegetable. But perhaps modern medicine can somehow partly improve his condition- though I have no idea as to the chances of that happening. It is a grim reminder that racing, despite the improvements in safety over the years, is still a very dangerous game.

[racer69]

Originally posted by Gerrit
It is a grim reminder that racing, despite the improvements in safety over the years, is still a very dangerous game.

Exactly right, as sad as it is, these are the risks that drivers and riders take and accept.

Are we all perhaps jumping the gun on the safety of the circuit maybe? There hasn't been many problems in previous years, and they had made some changes to the circuit this year. Was this just a black weekend, like San Marino 1994? Could this possibly lead to hurried changes to the Suzuka circuit, as happened at Imola.

Another sad fact of the accident is that Kato was a Honda favourite, and Suzuka is a Honda owned circuit.

[BootsOntheSide]

I hope this doesn't sound disrespectful, but if he has no hope of living properly in the near future, they should jsut turn off the life support and let him go with dignity. Breathing through a ventilator is not 'living', it's just existing. Christopher Reeve has been paralysed for nearly 10 years and has made little progress, and it seems unlikely that anything will change in the enar future. At least if they let him go now, he can die doing what he loved and was gifted at.

[Dino IV]

Good Lord, what an awful accident. Really hope he gets well (enough).

[GTRMagic]

I see where you are coming from BootsOnTheSide, it would have to be one of the most awful decisions to have to make, if it comes to it... 15% chance of survival, living permanently on a respirator and a quadriplegic... I am not sure how much worse it could possibly get short of death

[f1manoz]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
I hope this doesn't sound disrespectful, but if he has no hope of living properly in the near future, they should jsut turn off the life support and let him go with dignity.

I think many would have to agree with you on this one Boots.

[Lee Janotta]

Originally posted by racer69
Exactly right, as sad as it is, these are the risks that drivers and riders take and accept.

Are we all perhaps jumping the gun on the safety of the circuit maybe? There hasn't been many problems in previous years, and they had made some changes to the circuit this year. Was this just a black weekend, like San Marino 1994? Could this possibly lead to hurried changes to the Suzuka circuit, as happened at Imola.

I've been thinking that, about some people... But Suzuka does have a few places, like where Kato crashed, which have harsh, unprotected, and close impact angles with the Armco.

It's due to the basic design of the circuit, which never goes truly straight, but is always curving one way or another. The problem is that anytime the track curves, you _do_ need to move the barriers back a reasonable degree to provide some margin for error... Enough for a driver to shed some speed, or a rider to ditch his bike and try to curl up. Some people (like the ones running F1) try to remove the chance of impact altogether... That's neither practical nor necessary. The key word here is REASONABLE... There's no need to reprofile corners, or dig up the whole track... But there are changes which can be made, and which Honda can certainly afford. Indy-style "soft wall" technology, tire barriers, and a few more feet of runoff at dicey parts of the circuit.

The nannies really did go overboard at Imola... They never even tried tire barriers at Tamburello, those alone would have saved Senna. They didn't fully pave the runoff, but had a grass strip at the edge of the track which allowed cars to get airborne on their way to the wall. And ultimately, instead of that stupid chicane, they could have brought the apex of Tamburello furter to the _inside_, creating more room on the outside for a gravel trap.

I'm not accusing anyone _here_ of this, but it sickens me when certain people use tragedies like this to further their own agendas and pad their own wallets.

[Rambo]

Sad to lose anyone, particularly a young and very promising rider like Kato.

[pixie]

A number of people question the way that Kato was dealt with, I've cut and pasted from the FIM Medical Book how it should be done;

5.3.8 Procedure in the event of an injured rider

The management of an injured rider is under the control of the CMO and
should be in four phases:

Phase 1- Fast Intervention on the track or in the run off areas
A fallen rider must be reached by a Doctor or Paramedic who can begin
treatment within 60 seconds of him coming to rest. If the situation is
serious and the rider cannot move or be moved safely away, the CMO must
be informed by radio so that further assistance can be summoned. The
CMO, stationed in Race Control with access to Closed Circuit Television
can monitor the situation. Upon his request any Medical Vehicle can be
dispatched to the scene of the accident, only with a Race Director decision.


In extreme circumstances, only the Race Director can decide a practice
session or a race to be stopped to permit access to the fallen rider or to
permit treatment to continue on the track or in the run off area.
This intervention must be coded as follows :
– Green: quick intervention up to 3 minutes without protection for the
medical staff;
– Yellow: intervention lasting over 3 minutes with protection for the
medical staff;
– Red: The medical staff suggest to stop the practice session or the
race.

Phase 2 – Transfer to the Medical Centre
The injured rider will be transferred to the Medical Centre when its
condition permits. The CMO shall decide the time and method of transfer.
Rarely, at the discretion of the CMO only, a rider may be transferred to
hospital directly from the trackside.
The vehicle used to transfer the rider must be on scene of the accident
with minimum delay following the order to intervene.

Phase 3 – Medical Centre
At the Medical Centre, staff will be available to treat the rider. The CMO
remain responsible for the treatment of the rider.
If the rider is unconscious, he will be treated by the Medical Center staff
under the guidance of the CMO. The rider’s personal Doctor may observe
this treatment and may accompany the rider to hospital.
A rider who is conscious may choose the medical staff by whom he wishes
to be treated. A rider who does not wish to be treated by the Medical Centre
staff against their advice must sign a "Competitor Self Discharge" Form.

Phase 4 – Transfer to hospital
The CMO shall decide the time of transfer, the mode of transfer and the
destination of an injured rider. Having made the decision, it is his/her
responsibility to ensure that the receiving hospital and appropriate
specialists are informed of the estimated time of arrival and the nature of
injuries. It is also the responsibility of the CMO to ensure appropriately
skilled and equipped staff accompany the rider.

[Raven]

I've been thinking about Kato all day... I wish there was more news to read, the only thing I can find says basically the same thing. Don't give up Daijiro!!

[ghinzani]

Same thoughts have been occuring to me Raven. I had my first race meeting yesterday in a Rotax max kart and from a multi-kart shunt on the warm up lap, plenty of first lap shunts including a 7 kart pile up all the way thru it was pandemonium - but nobody got hurt. I returned home thinking how lucky I was ( I drove thru the middle of most incidents) and heard the news about poor Kato. It really makes you stop and think.

If he can survive with some of his brain function then there is hope, medical science will one day help him. But if hes a vegetable, unable to recognise family etc then... the unthinkable becomes thinkable. I've been thinking back to his 250 battles with jacques and nakano, and his dominant championship year - he was really very special, the japanese have lost a major talent whatever.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

[Fiorentina 1]

Very sad. What a great young rider, I have enjoyed many of his wins.

I feel really bad for his family & friends.

Like Winter said, if survival is being paralyzed from the neck down and never breathing on your own, then maybe that isn't the best. At least he got to see his daughter being born and had 10 days with her...

[Smally]

It is so terrible, I'm so sorry for him and his family.
Today it's his 27th birthday. Happy birthday Daijiro! You are such a good racer. Now it's time for the most important race in your life. Please win! You will make it!

[neilap]

The coverage we recieved on speed only showed the medical staff rushing him on a stretcher. The did not show them stabilizing his spine or anthing like that. It only seems they wanted to hurry him off before the bikes came around.

I horrified to hear of his injuries. I dont even know what to say about it. I have many friends who have died from motorbikes. It brings back so much.

In the end I just hope it all works out for the best.

[asha]

There are photos of the crash (you may or may not want to look at them).
http://www.amasuperbike.com/image/mo...ace/katocrash/


and there is this cnn link too
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapc...eut/index.html
But seeing the quality of CNN's coverage of the war i doubt they could get their facts straight on this.
It has Ukawa giving his opinion, about what might have happened but is reported like eyewitness account

[Schummy]

What sad... The aftermath of the accident was awful, I could not enjoy the race.

I saw the race delayed on my video (as I use to do), and when it ended I came here and... very sadly the news are the expected ones.

I hope Kato survive, and he can improve later...

I remember his glory days in 250cc, what a talent he (was)! I liked him and his ways.

Please, little Daijiro, survive!

[asha]

Happy Birthday Daijiro

We Love You!!

[Winther]

It is his birthday today?
Happy Birthday Daijiro-San.
I really hope that you will have many more.
Aw it is so sad.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by neilap
The coverage we recieved on speed only showed the medical staff rushing him on a stretcher. The did not show them stabilizing his spine or anthing like that. It only seems they wanted to hurry him off before the bikes came around.

The BBC coverage cut away just as they were about to put him onto the stretcher. The stretcher they had was a scoop stretcher, which is designed to be split into two pieces which can then be slid under the casualty; from what I saw, which has been confirmed by others who saw more of the incident, they didn't do that.

Without being in possession of the full facts, I don't want to make a judgement. It's easy to deal with incidents on television; in real life it's a little bit more difficult.

I'd like to be able to say that I can't understand why the race wasn't red-flagged for such a serious incident; unfortunately, I know the reason - television.

[f1manoz]

I found the decision not to red-flag the race particularly strange. When a rider is left lying like that on the road, it's obvious there is a serious injury involved and that the marshals should not be hurried into moving the rider.

I think not stopping was rather bizarre and should be looked into.