RIP Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa.

Japanese motorcycle grand prix star Shoya Tomizawa has passed away following a tragic incident during the Moto2 World Championship round at Misano in Italy on Sunday.

Tomizawa, who won the inaugural Moto2 round at Qatar earlier this season, was involved in a high-speed collision that included local Alex de Angelis and British youngster Scott Redding, later pronounced dead at 14.20 local time.

The 19-year-old is the second up and coming youngster to pass away during a grand prix event in two weekends following the tragic death of 13-year-old American Peter Lenz during a support race at the Indianapolis Grand Prix last Sunday.

“Today is a very sad day because we lost a very strong rider and a very nice person,” MotoGP World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo commented directly after his second place finish in the San Marino GP behind Honda’s Dani Pedrosa.

Fiat Yamaha teammate and multi-time world champion Valentino Rossi also added his thoughts to Tomizawa’s sad passing.

“When these things happen, all the rest becomes nothing. Shoya was a very funny guy and I am very sad at this moment,” Rossi added after his podium performance at his home round.

Tomizawa’s first full season of world championship racing came in 2009 where he placed 17th in the 250cc Grand Prix Championship, with his breakthrough ride coming at Qatar’s season opener in Moto2 this year.

Since his one and only race win, Tomizawa also finished on the podium with second position at Jerez in Spain. A pair of pole positions also highlighted his season before his tragic death.

The last full time GP rider to pass away was legendary Japanese rider Daijiro Kato, who was killed at Suzuka in 2003.

MotoOnline.com.au’s thoughts are with Tomizawa’s family and friends.