Marco Simoncelli has tragically died due to injuries sustained on the second lap of the Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang.

The Italian fell from fourth place after losing the front of his motorcycle through turn 11.

Instead of sliding in a straight line off the race track, as is normal, Simoncelli was then dragged by his bike - which had partially regained grip - as it veered across to the inside of the racetrack.

Lying sideways and still facing forwards, the Gresini Honda rider was then hit from behind by Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, who had no chance to avoid the sliding #58.

Simoncelli's helmet came off in the impact, which left him motionless on the track. The race was immediately stopped and later cancelled so that medical staff could continue to focus completely on treating the Italian in the medical centre.

Sadly, Simoncelli succumbed to his injuries at 16:56 local time.

Very much a rising star, the 24-year-old was the 2008 250cc world champion and had claimed his best ever MotoGP finish of second place just one week earlier at Phillip Island.

2011 was Simoncelli's second MotoGP season and he had signed to remain with Gresini and Honda next year.

During his grand prix career, which in 2002, Simoncelli won 14 grands prix - twelve in 250cc and two in 125cc.

In a cruel twist of fate, Simoncelli's death is the first in the premier-class since another Gresini rider, Daijiro Kato, was killed at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix.

Shoya Tomizawa died in similar circumstances to Simoncelli in last year's Misano round of the Moto2 World Championship.

Simoncelli, famous for his flamboyant hairstyle, had a laid-back and fun-loving character which was very much in contrast to his fearless riding style. All qualities that made 'Super Sic' especially popular with fans.

Crash.net joins the motorsport world in offering its deepest condolences to Simoncelli's family, team and friends.

Simoncelli's death comes just one week after IndyCar star Dan Wheldon lost his life during a race in Las Vegas.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQRXw1ppsm0&feature=player_embedded



r.i.p.

So sad, So young R.I.P #58

Marco Simoncelli did a recent interview on a free to air sports channel over here and it sums him up quite well.
When asked if he thought it was hard to ride the bike at those speeds or if he felt like he was going fast.*
He replied," when on the bike it feel okay and like i am not going that fast ,but,when i see it on the television I go F@#k that is fast"*......*may not be exact interview question and response but was very close and summed up his response.

Was a very funny Marco moment and a much nicer way to contrast the last time we will ever see a great racer that what was undoubtedly a future World Champ in action.

RIP #58 Marco Simoncelli 20 Jan 1987- 23 October,2011.I am still in shock and disbelief as I write this.Sympathy and condolenses to his family,friends and his many fans throughout the worl.:cheers:crying

Terrible news. One of my favorite racers. RIP Sic.

makes you sad inside, what a gutsy rider who had no fear and was a real charectar of the sport a true hero.

RiP SiMo

Watching replays you can see he was knocked out in the impact. I just hope he didn't feel or know anything. We've certainly lost one of the rising stars of MotoGP. The news stopped me going out on bike this morning. Just seemed like the right thing to do out of respect. He'd have probably said "go ride"!!!

RIP Simoncelli :(

Watching replays you can see he was knocked out in the impact. I just hope he didn't feel or know anything. We've certainly lost one of the rising stars of MotoGP. The news stopped me going out on bike this morning. Just seemed like the right thing to do out of respect. He'd have probably said "go ride"!!!

RIP Marco Simoncelli. Only 24 and so much promise. My condolences to his family and friends.

Knocked out? I'd say he was killed on the spot but only a doctor can declare death which happened at 16:56

Made me feel sick to my stomach to see him snuffed out in such a horrific accident. Rossi was a good friend and I can't imagine what the Doctor must be going through right now after.
http://photos.motogp.com/2008/12/10/236432_receiving+golden+helmet+at+bologna+motorsho w-1280x960-dec10.jpg._preview_big.jpg

I had to get out on the bike to clear my head after seeing the accident and praying for a miracle, then waiting for what seemed an eternity before they declared Marco dead.

Better to get shot out of a cannon than squeezed out of a tube!

Damn. These guys seem so immortal. Very humbling to hear news like this.

Rip Marco.

RIP Marco, I can't believe this has happened. Gutted.

One of my favorite MotoGP riders, So sad.. RIP Simoncelli

Absolutely shocking and horrible... RIP Marco... :(

A sad day for all of us that loves this sport. Rossi utterly gutted of course http://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/201110235328/Rossi-un-dolore-inesprimibile.html

I'm going to Valencia for the finals but the grid will for sure miss one of the best. Condolences to his family and team.

#58

Definitely a sad situation. He brought excitement to the sport in every race. RIP Sic.

RIP SuperSic. :(

so sad... rip

Totally floored, really gutted, I wept, heart felt condolences to family and friends.
R.I.P. Marco

Ride In Peace SuperSic :(

The death of super sic definitely hit me hard as I have had 2 close friends pass away this year in motorcycle accidents. My prayers to his family and friends. No doubt he was gonna be a world champion. Rip Marco you will be missed!!!


Sent from my Motorcycle iPhone app

Very sad. RIP Marco

RIP Marco, my thoughts and prayers are with his family

RIP Super SIC #58. You will be greatly missed.

Simoncelli was one of the very best. The news made my thoughts and whole body run cold....

His spirit will live on every MotoGP race and everytime I climb onto my motorcycle I will remember him....RIP Marco, see you in the next life. :)

Rip

I can't believe he's gone...what a talent he had, and will be missed by all.

I found this quote in one of the many articles published on the web (source unknown apparently): When asked if he was afraid of dying in an accident, Simoncelli apparently responded: "No. You live more for five minutes going fast on a bike like that, than other people do in all of their life."

Well put Marco. RIP.

My condolences to the family and team members.

Well said.

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46460

Via e-mail:

It has happened again.

A skilled, handsome, gifted racer died at the hands of the speed that thrilled him and the millions who watched. Yet we keep coming to the track. Why?

When Peter Lenz died last year at his tender age, media outlets across the country raged that one so young would be exposed to danger so great. In my opinion they did not understand.

"What did they not understand?" you ask.

Two things they did not understand. One: Each of us has our own acceptable level of risk. Whether it be trying to stop a charging running back with a pulling guard between you, or racing a motorcycle at speeds in triple digits, all of us take risks daily that we can live with.

Heck, getting out of bed in the morning is risky. Say your child or grandchild left a toy beside your bed, right where you step onto the floor. Sleepily you put your foot there and trip as you try to stand. Very likely you will hit something hard that will leave a mark.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration early estimates, over 32,000 people died in traffic incidents in the U.S. in 2010, not on a racetrack but on public roads. Already this season a handful of high school and college football players have died from participating in their sport.

Life is risky and each of us have our own acceptable level of risk.

The Second thing misunderstood by the media after Peter's death--and I'll warn you, I'm gonna get religious here--is that we are each gifted by God to do certain things with our lives. For some it is racing. Several months ago a rider who participates in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class asked me "How can I honor God with my life?" My answer was, "If you love racing and are good at it, you probably are doing so now by using the gifts given you."

Just like you cannot tell a giraffe not to be a giraffe, you cannot tell a racer not to be a racer. That is who you are, and it is OK.

So as we join the MotoGP community in grieving the loss of Marco Simoncelli, we can gather in support of the GP paddock, the racing officials, his competitors, all motorcycle racers, and the worldwide fans of motorcycle road racing. We can express concern for Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi as they recover from injuries both physical and emotional.

In addition we can continue to race as safely as we can, and support safety efforts such as the Roadracing World Action Fund which helps deploy Airfence segments.

This week we go to Road Atlanta for the WERA GNF. I have a feeling that if Marco Simoncelli were to talk to us tonight, he would say "Get to the track, have fun and race hard. Celebrate my life and gifts as you express your own life and gifts."

I think Marco would agree with the plaque we keep on our kitchen table. It says "Life's Journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn-out shouting 'Woo Hoo! What a ride!'"

Tim Burleson
AMA Pro and WERA Chaplain
Lexington, South Carolina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orkI_7Cmpbc

RIP Marco. A great talent and huge loss to MotoGP:sad

I had recorded the race, and just got a chance to watch it late last night. Such a tragic event, but completely unavoidable. As soon as the helmet was ripped off, you could tell it was not going to end well. And as the shots showed him lying there lifeless, it was definately a chilling moment. It sucks that it happened, but it's part of the risk a racer takes every time they suit up.

RIP Marco

May God have mercy on his soul. Very sad and tragic story.:sad

Watching this accident made me feel sick to my stomach and very sad for his family and the racing community as a whole. I race superbikes at the mere amatuer level and for many reasons this loss has made me reflect for hours on end over the past few days. Motorcycle racing is a very different kind of sport...you are part of a team, but not really - only one member of it stands on the podium; only one member takes on all the risk. It's one of the few sports where death is always a very realistic possibility and where, like the Cross, love overcomes death and the fear of it. It's the love of a 2-wheeled beast that constantly urges us to throw a leg over and go faster every time out...and it's this love that justifies the risk. In motorcycle racing you're not out there trying to get hurt, but you can't consciously try not to either. Unlike so many other professional sports, steroids won't help much here - in fact they would most likely hinder. The most important muscle in motorcycle racing isn't one of physical strength, but of character - the heart. Superbike racing is a sport for men in a world so full of cowards. It's not a sport for those without fear, but for those with the strength of will to overcome and conquor it. Sometimes even parents and family members view racing as a selfish decision - as if our only goal was to provide their aging stomachs with yet another reason to be knotted up, while the hands of time force them nearer to an end we so carelessly choose to flirt with. I can't help but laugh to myself and feel like, on some level, they should be thankful we provide them with a reason to pray to a Creator they may have long since forgotten. Because they fear the possibility of their own loss, without being able to recognize our gain, they don't realize that the track isn't where we die - it is where we live. And what they don't understand, and never will, is that somehow motorcycle racing chooses us, we don't choose it. Racing is not what we do, but is who we are, and that cannot be changed. It seems to be in our blood - to flow in our veins - and whether we run amongst the ranks of top MotoGP experts or the unknown local club racers, it is still a dream fulfilled. Simoncelli's death is a terrible loss, but that isn't what we should dwell upon, even though sorrow does seem to guide us in that direction. We should reflect on his life - that he was one of the very best at what he did; that he died doing what he loved and we should all be so lucky; that he didn't let fear dominate his life like so many do and that he was operating to the very best of his God-given ability. And in the end, we can perhaps see him as an inspiration to live differently - better, stronger, purer, harder - to change. Simoncelli's death hasn't made me second guess my choice of racing, not even for a second....but it has made me want to go faster.

[R.I.P. Marco Simoncelli 1987-2011]

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