Motorcyclist dies after being flung headlong from his bike during Malaysian Moto GP

Italian motorcyclist Marco Simoncelli died in a horrific crash at today's MotoGP race in Malaysia, organisers have said.

The 24-year-old was flung from his bike and skidded across the track, before apparently being hit by competitors Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.

The fatal accident comes just a week after British IndyCar racing driver Dan Wheldon died after crashing in Las Vegas.

Simoncelli's bike was smashed to pieces after his dramatic loss of control in the second lap.

The unconscious rider was taken to the medical centre at the track in Sepang for treatment, but his injuries to the chest, head and neck were too serious for him to be saved.

Organisers cancelled the race soon after Simoncelli's accident and said in a bulletin reported on website Autosport: 'Race cancelled as the medical centre staff is focusing on treating Marco Simoncelli and track action cannot be resumed in the current circumstances.'

The rider, who only moved up to MotoGP level last year, was given CPR in the ambulance, while his devastated mother and father wept in shock and fans huddled near the track sobbed with fear.

The CPR continued at the medical centre for 45 minutes but Simoncelli was declared dead at 4.56pm local time.

The rider's girlfriend, Kate looked ashen-faced and she walked through the deserted MotoGP garages.

Simoncelli's fellow Honda rider Dani Pedrosa said: 'In a tragedy like this there is not much to say. I just want to give my condolences to his family and all the people who love him.'

Pedrosa, who had fallen out with Simoncelli earlier in the season, added: 'I've been with his father and all we could do was to hug, nothing else matters.

soure