From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

Viale Daijiro Kato Opening Ceremony

Misano Adriatico

The opening ceremony of Viale Daijiro Kato, the boulevard that will lead to the main entrance of the Santa Monica Circuit in Misano Adriatico, will take place on Saturday 8th May 2004, at 10:00 a.m.

After one year since his untimely death, the Mayer of Misano Adriatico, with the support of all the Gresini Racing staff, wished to remember the young Japanese rider with a street dedicated to him.

Twenty Japanese cherry trees have been chosen by Gresini Racing and the Comune of Misano Adriatico to decorate the boulevard as a clear symbol of Daijiro’s mother country.

The whole family of the Japanese rider will be present at the ceremony, starting form his parents Mr.Takashi and Mrs.Hatsumi Kato, his wife Mrs.Makiko together with his two children, Ikkoh and Rinka, and Mrs.Junko Mohri.

President Mr.Negishi will attend the ceremony as a representative of Honda Italia, whereas Mr.Tachikawa, HRC Team Manager, Mr.Irie, Euro-HRC General Manager! and Mr.Koinuma, Representative of the FPS Project will be present in the name of HRC – Honda Racing Corporation.

The Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda, together with rider Colin Edwards and Daijiro’s good friend Makoto Tamada, will gather round the 250cc Honda bike the Japanese rider was crowned World Champion with in 2001 and remember their dear lost friend. There will be also Max Biaggi, Roberto Rolfo and Andrea Dovizioso.

In memory of his brilliant career as a motorcycle rider, the Italian magazine “Motosprint” will donate to his Family the prestigious prize “Casco d’Oro”.

The ceremony is open to all the Honda motorcycle fans that will participate to the “Honda Family Festival”, taking place in the Circuit of Santa Monica. At the end of the ceremony, the motorcyclists are invited to ride through the boulevard in memory of the great rider, Daijiro Kato.