Gifted boy, 9, is killed while training for his first international motorcycle race
A nine-year-old boy with a promising career in motorsports died on Monday, just days after a crash during a practice session in Brazil.
Lorenzo Somaschini was taking part in a first free practice session when he crashed at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo, according to event organizer SuperBike Brasil.
Somaschini, born in Argentina’s central city of Rosario, suffered serious injuries from the fall and was stabilized at the track’s emergency room.
He was rushed to Geral da Pedreira Hospital and remained there until early Saturday, when his medical condition deteriorated.
Somaschini was then transferred to Albert Einstein Hospital, where he died.
Nine-year-old Lorenzo Somaschini, born in Rosario, Argentina, died Monday in a hospital in Brazil, just three days after he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident while practicing for an upcoming race in the southeastern city of São Paulo.
Lorenzo Somaschini made his debut at the Argentine Superbike Junior Cup in April and dreamed of one day competing in MotoGP
“Everyone in the SuperBike Brasil team is shocked by the event and expresses their sincere feelings to all of Lorenzo’s family and friends,” SuperBike Brasil said.
Somaschini was preparing for his first race in Brazil when he fell at the exit of the Pinheirinho, considered the slowest corner of the Formula 1 circuit.
According to his instructor Diego Pierluigi, he was driving at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.
“The fall was very slow, but Lolo was with his head at the very bottom of the helmet in a position that caused inflammation at the base of his skull,” Pierluigi told Reuters.
Lorenzo Somaschini suffered a head injury after falling from his motorcycle during free practice at Interlagos, a motorsport circuit in São Paulo, Brazil
Retired three-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo, who admired and honored Somaschini with the number 99 on his bike, sent his condolences to the young rider’s family.
“My heart breaks because I was his idol and he had my number,” the Spaniard said on Instagram. ‘Unfortunately, motorcycles can give us anything, at any time. A big hug for the family.’
The late phenomenon debuted in April during the Argentine Superbike Junior Cup, on a Honda CB250 Twister.
Just days before the race, Somaschini told La Capital newspaper that his interest in motorsport began at the age of two.
‘My father rode motorcycles, when I was two years old he took me to the supermarket and I started to enjoy it. My goal is to reach MotoGP,” said Somaschini.