Misano street named after Kato

The road that leads into Santa Monica circuit in Misano has been named after Daijiro Kato.

Kato’s parents, wife and children, close friend Makoto Tamada and Colin Edwards attended the naming ceremony and 20 Japanese cherry blossom trees have been planted along the Viale Daijiro Kato.

Former 250cc World Champion Kato died after a crash at the first round of the 2003 MotoGP World Championship at Suzuka.

Fans also rode through the boulevard in Kato’s memory.