Kato's team to race on after accident

Even though the rider Daijiro Kato is in a coma after crashing during the first race of the MotoGP championship in Japan, his Telefonica Honda team still plans to compete in the second round in South Africa.

Kato, who has been in hospital since Sunday, suffered serious head, neck and chest injuries in the crash at Suzuka and his heart had to be restarted as he lay on the circuit. His heartbeat and blood pressure have now become stable, but he is in a critical condition and his brain pressure is still high.

The Telefonica team manager Fausto Gresini, after speaking with his other rider, Sete Gibernau, and team staff, has now decided to take part in the second GP of the season at Welkom on 27 April.

"This is a very difficult moment for the whole team," Gibernau said. "I know Dai very well, because we spent lots of time together last winter and I am sure that, if only he could tell us something, he would tell us to go and race at Welkom and to do our best."

Gresini, who has been at Kato's bedside since Sunday, said: "We all keep on praying for Daijiro, it is the only thing we can do now. There is nothing we can say, just wait and see what happens."