Moto GP Race Simoncelli Perishes in Malaysian Grand Prix Crash

Pictured: Italian MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli of San Carlo Honda Gresini Team during a free practice session at Sepang International Circuit, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 22 October 2011. EPA/BGNES

Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer Marco Simoncelli has died as a result of injuries he suffered in a crash on the second lap of the Malaysian Grand Prix.

24-year-old Simoncelli was fighting for fourth with Alvaro Bautista when he lost the front of his bike and slid across the circuit, into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, both of whom appeared to hit the Honda.

Simoncelli lay stricken on the track after the crash, his helmet having come off during the incident.

He was taken by ambulance to the circuit's medical centre, but at 4:56 pm local time it was announced he had succumbed to his injuries, Yahoo News reported.

The death was the first fatality in MotoGP since Daijiro Katoh, also a Gresini rider, passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix. The last fatal accident in the world championship series came when Moto2 rider Showa Tomizawa was killed at Misano last September.

Simoncelli had established himself as one of the most exciting new stars in MotoGP this season, his second year at the top level with the Gresini Honda team.

A former European 125cc champion, Simoncelli was a race winner and frontrunner during three years in world championship 125cc racing before coming to the 250cc series in 2006.

The organizers cancelled the Malaysian Grand Prix after Simoncelli's crash.

Video of Simoncelli's crash is available on YouTube HERE

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!