Lorenzo Somaschini, 9, young motorcycle prodigy, died in a racing accident

The motorcycle world is in mourning. Lorenzo Somaschinia young 9-year-old pilot, originally from Argentina, and considered to be the child prodigy of discipline in his country, died during a test session on the Interlagos circuit, the organizers of the competition in which he was to participate announced this Monday, June 17, 2024.

Lorenzo Somaschini would have slipped in a turn Friday, seriously hitting his head. Doctors immediately took him to the hospital, but after a few days, Lorenzo did not survive.

At just four years old, his father gave him a mini-motorcycle and since that moment, he had developed a great passion for motorcycles, says the Argentine media Clarin. His dream was to compete in the MotoGP world championship, the most important category in international motorcycling.

An accident occurred during free practice

This drama occurred on Friday during the first free practice session of the fourth round of the Honda Junior SuperBike Brazil Cup on a circuit which hosts Formula 1 races every year.

“SuperBike Brasil announces, with great sadness and regret, the death of rider Lorenzo Somaschini,” said the organizers in a press release this Monday, June 17, 2024. “The entire team is dismayed and expresses its sincere condolences to the family and to Lorenzo’s friends,” it is added.

His coach, former runner Diego Pierluigi, bid him farewell by posting a message on social media: “It is with a broken heart and soul that I must say goodbye to you. I’m going to miss you a lot, Lolito.”

Drivers aged 8 to 16 at 120 km/h

According to Diego Pierluigi, the accident “was a misfortune in which the factors aligned for it to happen” because the child “made a low speed fall in the slowest curve of the circuit.

There Honda Junior Cup brings together pilots aged 8 to 16 years old on adapted 160 cm³ motorcycleswhose pedals and handlebars have been modified according to the size of each child, and which can reach a speed of 120 km/h.

During the tragedy, Lorenzo Somashini was driving at only 40 kilometers per hour, the little victim’s coach said, reports Clarin. “The rear wheel skidded and locked. His body was thrown due to the inertia effect. The fall was very slow, but his head was hit in the very lower part of the helmet,” he detailed.

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