Rider Marco Simoncelli was killed after a horrific crash-video
The crash occurred just minutes after the race began when the 24-year-old Honda rider's bike veered across the track and into the paths of riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.
Chaos … TV footage of the crash that killed Marco Simoncelli.
Simoncelli's helmet was knocked off in the ensuing collision on turn 11. MotoGP later announced his death on its website.
''Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in Malaysia,'' the announcement said.
Edwards also fell but escaped serious injury and Rossi was able to return to the pits.
Marco Simoncelli ... 'A special talent." Photo: Getty Images
Newly crowned Australian world champion Casey Stoner said later he had felt ''sick inside'' when he saw the accident.
Stoner admitted that immediately after the crash, he had feared the worst. ''As soon as I saw the footage it just makes you sick inside,'' the Australian told BBC2.
''Whenever the helmet comes off, that's not a good sign.''
Simoncelli had finished second to Stoner in the Australian MotoGP only the weekend before.
The Sepang circuit chairman, Mokhzani Mahathir, said: ''This is one-of-a-kind freak incident where the helmet came off and I am sure FIM [International Federation of Motorcycling] and MotoGP will be looking into this.''
Motor sports have had a nightmare stretch recently and Simoncelli's death looked certain to throw open more questions over safety.
The weekend before, last year's MotoGP champ Jorge Lorenzo crashed during warm-ups in Australia, severing a finger and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died in a 15-car crash in Las Vegas in the Indy Car series.
The track in Sepang was immediately red-flagged after the crash and organisers later said the race had been cancelled.
Although there is a final race in Spain still to come, Stoner has already secured the 2011 championship with his win last weekend in the Australian Grand Prix.
Tributes came in for Simoncelli from fellow riders.
British MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow wrote on Twitter: ''RIP Marco Simoncelli! A great rider and all round nice guy. My thoughts are with all his family & friends. I will never forget today.''
Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber tweeted: ''RIP Marco. A special talent that will be missed. Thinking of your loved ones and all the MotoGP paddock.''
The accident happened when the Italian low-sided from his bike at turn 11. His bike veered across the track and straight into the path of Edwards and Rossi.
Simoncelli, who was motionless on the track after the impact, had been fourth at the end of lap 1. Simoncelli first entered MotoGP last year. He won his first pole position at the Catalunya race last June.
Simoncelli's first podium was in the Czech Republic in August when he was third. He bettered that with the second place at the Australian GP.
Simoncelli had started in the 125cc class in 2002 and moved up to the 250cc class in 2006. He claimed the 250cc world title in 2008.
This season he finished fifth in the season open in Qatar before falling from the lead of the wet race at Jerez.
He secured his highest starting position to that point of second, before falling on the first lap of the Estoril race.
During the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, Simoncelli collided with Dani Pedrosa while the pair were battling for second place.
The resulting crash saw Pedrosa break his collarbone.
Simoncelli received a ride-through penalty, eventually finishing fifth in the race.
He initially rejected blame for the crash, claiming he braked no later than normal. He also said he had left Pedrosa enough room.
But before the next race, he accepted that he needed to reflect on his riding style.
Comments