Japanese MotoGP rider Daijiro Kato on Saturday died in a Tokyo hospital after failing to recover from injuries he sustained in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, the motorcycling organisation said on its website.

Kato suffered severe injuries to his head, neck and chest in the crash during the season-opening race on April 6.

The 26-year-old slammed into a wall at just under 200kph on approach to the chicane, completely writing off his Honda.

Kato was flown by helicopter to an intensive care unit after medical staff battled for more than 30 minutes to get his heart beating again.

Kato, who had two second-place finishes last year after moving up from 250cc, was involved in a battle for fifth place when he crashed on the third of 21 laps.