Japanese racer Daijiro Kato has died in a Tokyo hospital on Saturday after failing to recover from injuries sustained during the opening MotoGp round in Japan.

The 26-year-old Honda rider suffered serious injuries to the head, chest and neck when he was thrown off his bike after hitting a tyre barrier at Suzuka on 6 April, and never regained consciousness.

Kato arrived on the world scene in 1996 when he finished third in the 250cc race at Suzuka behind Max Biaggi. He secured a grand prix ride in 2000 with Honda, finishing second to Olivier Jacques in a championship season which went all the way to the wire. 2001, however, brought him the world championship, along with new records for the most wins in a season (11) and the highest points total in the class.

Kato's death is the first in the sport since another Japanese rider, Nobuki Wakai, was killed at the 1993 Spanish rand Prix.

However, neither the Honda team inquiry nor the police investigation that followed the crash have been able to pinpoint its cause. Examination of professional and amateur video and photographic evidence has proven inconclusive.

The team statement said: "Honda Racing has examined the motorcycle and analysed the available data regarding its operation, but found no irregularities. Based on the currently available information, we have not been able to determine the cause of the accident."

Hopefully at some point someone will work out what happened to make this talented and popular rider leave the track.

Our thoughts are with his wife and two children.