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Tragic: Marco Simoncelli of Italy and San Carlo
Honda Gresini has died following a crash involving Valentino Rossi and Colin
Edwards during the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang, Malaysia |
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Tragedy:
Simoncelli (centre) takes the first corner on his second lap moment before the
fatal crash at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix
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| Deadly:
The rider (No 58) is seen sliding from his bike and colliding with two other
riders in a horrifying crash |
The 24-year-old
Simoncelli had his helmet knocked off in the accident, which occurred when the
Italian lowsided from his bike at Turn 11.
As Simoncelli
tried to arrest the fall his bike veered across the track and straight into the
path of Edwards and Rossi. The race was immediately red-flagged.
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| Devastation:
Simonelli's mother Rossella is comforted outside the medical center after her
son's fatal crash |
He suffered
"very serious trauma to the head, neck and the chest" and later went
into cardiac arrest, MotoGP medical director Michele Macchiagodena told
reporters.
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| Agony:
Marco Simoncelli's father is comforted as he waits outside a medical centre
where the rider was taken following a crash at the Malaysian Grand Prix |
"Despite
their (doctors') efforts, Marco sadly succumbed to his injuries at 4:56pm local
time (0856 GMT)," MotoGP said in a sombre statement.
"Everybody involved in MotoGP extends
its deepest condolences to Marco's family, friends and team at this tragic
loss."
Simoncelli, who
was motionless on the track after the impact, had been fourth at the end of lap
one. Edwards also fell but escaped serious
injury, while Rossi, on a Ducati, was able to return to the pits.
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Empty:
Simoncelli's girlfriend Kate walks through an empty Honda garage after the
shocking accident
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"It
is official. He is dead. He succumbed to his injuries," said an official
with Dorna, the company that runs MotoGP, who spoke on condition of anonymity
pending a formal announcement. Although there is a final race in Spain still to
come, Australia's Casey
Stoner has already secured the 2011 championship with his win
last weekend in the Australian Grand Prix.
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Grief:
Simonelli's spare motorcycle sites in an empty garage after the race was
abandoned one lap in after his sudden death
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Stoner admitted
immediately after the crash he had feared the worse.
"As soon as
I saw the footage it just makes you sick inside," the Australian told
BBC2. "Whenever the helmet comes off that's not a good sign."
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Source - dailymail.co.uk