Jason Dupasquier died on Sunday May 30, following his accident the day before, during qualifying for the Moto3 Italian Grand Prix. The Swiss pilot was 19 years old.
[Updated May 31, 2021 09:19 AM] 19-year-old Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier died on Sunday May 30 following his accident the previous day during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Jason Dupasquier. On behalf of the entire MotoGP family, we send our love to his team, his family and his loved ones. We will miss you sorely, Jason. Ride in peace”, announced the organizer of the world championship in a press release. “Despite the efforts of the circuit’s medical team and all those who subsequently took care of the Swiss driver, the hospital (Careggi, in Florence, where he had been transported, editor’s note) announced that Dupasquier unfortunately succumbed to his injuries”, specified the promoter of the competition. The accident took place on Saturday, in the last moments of qualifying.
According to the television images showing only the end of his fall and the statements of the other pilots involved, the Japanese Ayumu Sasaki and the Spaniard Jeremy Alcoba, he was hit by at least one motorcycle, before sliding inanimate on the track, reports RMC Sport. After about forty minutes of intervention by the rescuers, Jason Dupasquier was transferred by medical helicopter to the trauma center of the Careggi hospital in Florence, “polytraumatized and in serious condition”. An operation took place overnight from Saturday to Sunday. RMC Sport then clarified that his Moto3 team, PrüstelGP, and his compatriot Thomas Lüthi (Moto2) had decided not to start the GP in their respective categories that day. The races took place, marked in particular by the victory of Frenchman Fabio Quartararo in the top class of MotoGP. The Yamaha rider waved a Swiss flag at the finish, in tribute to Jason Dupasquier.
“It was difficult because every lap I was thinking about Jason, I don’t even know how I didn’t make a mistake. You just try to go for it, trying to forget but every time I arrived at turn 9, I was only thinking of Jason”, said the Frenchman after the race in comments taken up by L’Equipe. “I dedicate this victory to Jason. It was really hard to stay focused on the race. The minute of silence was really hard, everyone was crying, there were a lot of emotions. But as soon as I got on the motorcycle, I tried to reset I didn’t think about the Ducatis who could be faster, the other riders, the pace, I just tried to concentrate to win the Grand Prix for him and his family .”
Fabio Quartararo, however, did not know the Swiss driver personally. “I’ve never really met him, but he’s still a kid, he was 19. It’s always hard to lose one of our own. We know the risks of our sport but when times like this come , it’s not easy and you have to try to forget them”.
Jason Dupasquier, who wore No. 50, is the son of motocross rider and Supermoto Philippe Dupasquier. First engaged in Supermoto like his father, he successfully took to the track, winning an ADAC title in Moto3 before joining the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies where he stood out. He logically goes to the world championship in 2020 with the German team PrüstelGP, scoring no points in his first season finished in 28th place. After five races he was 10th in the drivers standings with 27 points on the clock. He had notably compiled two top 10s in Qatar and then in Jerez.
