Italian Rider Marco Simoncelli Killed In MotoGP Race Today

Watching racer Marco Simoncelli crash on a Malaysian track, lose his helmet, get struck and suffer ultimately fatal head, neck and chest trauma isn't easy to watch. But, it happened, so you can do so if you so choose.

The race was stopped on lap two when Simoncelli's bike veered across the track at turn 11 into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.

The 24-year-old had his helmet knocked off and was hit by both other riders. ... Simoncelli lay motionless on the track after the impact, while the race was immediately red-flagged.

The race was cancelled amid confusion in the grandstand, with fans throwing bottles to show their initial displeasure.

The death is the first fatality in MotoGP since Japan's Daijiro Katoh died from injuries sustained at the 2003 Japanese GP while, last year, Japan's Shoya Tomizawa died in a similar crash to Simoncelli in a Moto2 race in San Marino. ...

Sepang circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir added: "This is a 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."

Marco Simoncelli dies after MotoGP crash in Sepang [BBCSport]