UPDATE: Jason Dupasquier passed away on 30 May 2021, a day after the accident - FULL STORY
Teenager Jason Dupasquier remains in a critical condition in hospital after being seriously injured in an accident during qualifying for the latest round of the 2021 Moto3 World Championship at Mugello.
The Swiss rider triggered a multi-bike accident during qualifying for the Italian event after slipping from his KTM at the exit of Turn 9. He was then collected by the close-following Ayumu Sasaki and Jeremy Alcoba, who had no time to react to the incident unfolding ahead of them.
Though Sasaki was launched from his bike, it soon became clear that Dupasquier needed urgent medical attention on circuit. Tended to by medical teams at the scene to indicate the severity of his conditions, eventually the medical helicopter landed on the track to airlift Dupasquier to hospital in Florence.
FIM Medical OFficer Giancarlo di Filippo confirmed the 19-year-old Prustel GP rider remains in a ‘very serious’ condition.
“Rider #50 Jason Dupasquier was involved in a very serious crash in Qualifying 2 of Moto3," said di Filippo.
"The FIM Medical Intervention team arrived immediately at the site of the accident. After that he was transferred in a hemodynamically stable way [stable heart/blood circulation] to the hospital in Florence.
"For the moment, we know that he’s in a very serious condition and we are waiting for further updates by the hospital."
This is Dupasquier’s second season in grand prix competition after making his debut with the Prustel GP team in 2020. Though that campaign yielded no points’ finishes, he has enjoyed an upturn in form in 2021 with a run of five point-scoring results, peaking with a seventh in Jerez.
His Prustel GP team have since decided to withdraw its remaining bike - belonging to Japanese racer Ryusei Yamanaka - from the Italian MotoGP.
During Saturday's media debriefs, Valentino Rossi was one of the riders to express his concern at Dupasquier's condition.
"First of all, we want to speak a bit about the crash in Moto3 which is the most important thing of today, a lot more than the MotoGP practice. Unfortunately, this is the most dangerous thing in motorcycle races. Because Dupasquier crashes and one or maybe two riders [hit] him from behind.
"I hope he can be good, that the condition is not very bad. But the image was very bad with the helicopter, and everything. I hope for Dupasquier."
