P22
IN
THE
WIND
MATSUSHITA KILLED AT ISLE OF MAN TT
J
apanese road racer Yoshinari Matsushita was killed on
Sunday, May 27 during one of
the opening practice sessions
at the Isle of Man TT. Matsushita
crashed in the fast Ballacrcye
section at the northern end of
the island. He was 43 years old.
Matsushita had only recently
been announced as a member
of the Tyco Suzuki team and was
set to compete in both four-lap
Supersport races in this year's
TT. He was to be assisted by former Suzuki rider Mitsuo Ito, who
became Japan's only TT winner
in 1963 when he won the 50cc
Ultra-Lightweight TT.
Matsushita had Isle of Man
experience and competed in
his first TT in 2009. In addition
to the Supersport races he was
entered in this year, he had previously competed in Superstock,
Superbike and the TT Zero electric bike class. Matsushita was
also a 2008 Motegi Endurance
race winner.
Yoshinari
Matsushita was
killed at the
Isle of Man on
Sunday.
The ACU [Auto Club Union] issued a statement that expressed
the organization's sympathies to
Matsushita's family and friends.
"Yoshi was a really popular
competitor who had a large number of friends in the TT Races
paddock," said Gary Thompson,
MBE, Clerk of the Course, ACU.
"He was a genuine and friendly
character who always had time
for everyone. He will be sorely
missed."
The statement said that an investigation of the accident was
underway. Matsushita is the
21st rider to be killed on the TT
course since 2000.
SPRINGFIELD MILE RAINED OUT
T
he fourth round of the AMA Grand National Championship in Springfield, Illinois,
was rained out on Sunday with the race now scheduled to run as part of the doubleheader at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend, August 31-September 1.
In addition to the two Grand National Championship races set to be held this fall,
the IMDA will be running an amateur Short Track on Friday, August 30. For additional
information, please visit the IMDA's website at http://www.illinoismda.com/
