VOLUME 58 ISSUE 22 JUNE 2, 2021 P25
delayed after Jason broke his
femur in the second round of that
year's CEV Moto3 Junior World
Championship, keeping him out
for the rest of the season. But
his comeback from injury the
following year was impressive,
as he became a top-10 regular in
the Red Bull Rookies Cup as he
finished eighth overall.
A move to the Moto3 World
Championship with the CarXpert
PruestelGP KTM squad was just
reward for his efforts. And while
his rookie campaign in 2020 was
a testing one, in which Jason
failed to score a point, he re-
turned reinvigorated in 2021. His
progress was pronounced, scor-
ing points in each outing prior to
the Italian Grand Prix—including a
best result of seventh at Jerez—to
sit 10th in the world champion-
ship standings.
On Sunday afternoon, Ducati's
Jack Miller led the tributes. "I see
a lot of similarities with myself and
Jason. Last year he was a little
bit out of his depth. But he really
started digging and working and
this year we started seeing some
great speed from him. But he was
taken away from us far too early.
It's a great shame. A tragedy."
Moto2 race winner Remy
Gardner added, "I didn't per-
sonally know him. I'd seen him
around the paddock. He looked
like a really great kid. Motorcy-
cles can be bitches sometimes,
I tell you. It's a tough sport. We
accept the risks. We need to
enjoy every single good day
we have. It's so sad. I'm lost for
words. I should be super happy
today but I don't know what to
say—just sorry to his family and
friends. I hope they can get
through this."
Dupasquier's death was the
first at a grand prix event since
Luis Salom was killed at the 2016
Grand Prix of Barcelona.
Neil Morrison
MotoGP racers held
a minute of silence
before racing began
at Mugello.