For the second weekend running the world of motorsport was left mourning one of its own after exciting young Italian rider Marco Simoncelli was killed in a horrific accident at Sunday’s Malaysian round of the MotoGP championship at Sepang.
Simoncelli, 24, fell from his bike at turn 11 and skidded into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, losing his helmet in the ensuing collision.
The race was immediately red flagged as Simoncelli lay motionless on the track and then cancelled altogether once the extent of the Honda rider’s injuries became clear.
After being transported to the circuit’s medical centre by ambulance Simoncelli was pronounced dead due to “a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest”.
“Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Marco’s family, friends and team at this tragic loss,” read a statement on the official MotoGP website.
BBC MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts reported that when the track medics got to him, Simoncelli was in cardiac arrest. “They tried to resuscitate him in the ambulance and the medical centre,” Roberts said. “Both riders collided with him and the impact corresponded to him losing his helmet. The saddest thing is that Valentino [Rossi] and Marco were very close friends. [telegraph.co.uk]