Marco Simoncelli Killed in Sickening MotoGP Crash in Malaysia

Only one week after the horror smash that claimed the life of IndyCar’s Dan Wheldon, the international motorsport family has been rocked by the death of MotoGP’s Marco Simoncelli.

Simoncelli lost control of his bike only four minutes into the Malaysian MotoGP race and was hit by Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi as his bike crabbed back across the track.

Simoncelli’s helmet was dislodged in the sickening impact and he lay unconscious on the track and was pronounced dead 45 minutes later as a result of terrible head and chest injuries despite every effort of the on-site medical staff.

Understandably, the race was cancelled as soon as the extent of Simoncelli’s injuries became apparent.

The Telegraph reports, “A statement on the MotoGP official website read: 'On Sunday 23rd October, during the MotoGP race at the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, San Carlo Honda Gresini's Italian rider Marco Simoncelli suffered a serious accident in which he received critical injuries.'”

Simoncelli was the 2008 Moto2 Champion, ironically clinching the title at the same Sepang circuit where he tragically would lose his life three years later. He joined the MotoGP ranks in 2010 where he became an instantly recognisable figure with his wild mane of hair.

The last rider to die in MotoGP was Dajiro Katoh who was killed in his home Japanese Grand Prix in 2003.

R.I.P. Marco.