<p>The crash occurred just minutes after the race began when the 24-year-old Honda rider's bike veered across the track and into the path of riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.<br /><br />Simoncelli had his helmet knocked off in the ensuing collision, which occurred on turn 11.<br /><br />MotoGP later announced Simoncelli's death in a one-line statement on its website. "Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in Malaysia," it said.<br /><br />Motor sports have seen a nightmare stretch recently and Simoncelli's death looked certain to throw open more questions over safety.<br /><br />Last weekend, 2010 MotoGP champ Jorge Lorenzo crashed during warm-ups in Australia, severing a finger, while two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died in a 15-car crash in Las Vegas in Indy Car. The race at Malaysia's Sepang track was immediately red-flagged following the crash and organisers later announced it had been cancelled.<br /><br />Edwards also fell but escaped serious injury, while Rossi was able to return to the pits. 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.</p>
<p>The crash occurred just minutes after the race began when the 24-year-old Honda rider's bike veered across the track and into the path of riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.<br /><br />Simoncelli had his helmet knocked off in the ensuing collision, which occurred on turn 11.<br /><br />MotoGP later announced Simoncelli's death in a one-line statement on its website. "Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in Malaysia," it said.<br /><br />Motor sports have seen a nightmare stretch recently and Simoncelli's death looked certain to throw open more questions over safety.<br /><br />Last weekend, 2010 MotoGP champ Jorge Lorenzo crashed during warm-ups in Australia, severing a finger, while two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died in a 15-car crash in Las Vegas in Indy Car. The race at Malaysia's Sepang track was immediately red-flagged following the crash and organisers later announced it had been cancelled.<br /><br />Edwards also fell but escaped serious injury, while Rossi was able to return to the pits. 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.</p>