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Hatsune Miku Bike Racer Yoshinari Matsushita Dies in Accident
posted on by Egan Loo
43-year-old motorcycle racer Yoshinari Matsushita was killed during a qualifiying session at the 2013 Isle of Man TT Races near Great Britain and Ireland on Monday. Tyco Suzuki and TAS Racing announced his death after just announcing earlier in the day that he had joined their team for this year's Supersport races. Matsushita was also participating in this year's TT Zero races as part of Team Mirai, the organization that fields Hatsune Miku electric motorcycles.
The Isle of Man TT Races began in 1907 as the world's oldest motorcycle race on public roads. Matsushita has been competing in the Isle of Man TT races since 2009, and he placed fifth in the 2011 races' TT Zero for electric bikes. Matsushita is the 21st racer to die in the races since 2000.
TAS Racing manager Philip Neill said, “Everyone within our team is devastated about tonight's terrible events. We were very much looking forward to working with Yoshinari during TT2013 and pass on our deepest condolences to his family and fellow team members.”
Sources: Asahi, BBC via Hachima Kikō
