MotoGP 2011 – Marco Simoncelli dies in Malaysian Grand Prix

San Carlo Honda Gresini Rider Marco Simoncelli has left us all after the incidents of the second lap Malaysian MotoGP race in Sepang circuit. After the crash, Italian Rider was taken to the medical center at the Sepang circuit where he died of chest, head and neck injuries, MotoGP organizers said. Simoncelli lost control of his bike at the turn 11 four minutes into the race and was hit by Colin Edwards and then Rossi as he slid across the track, While his helmet off.
On Twitter, close friend and seven-time champion Rossi wrote: ‘Sic for me was like a youngest brother. So strong on track and so sweet in the normal life. I will miss him a lot.’ Speaking at a press conference following the tragedy, medical director Dr Michele Macchiagodena said of Simoncelli: ‘Because of the crash he had during the race, in which he was hit by other riders, he suffered a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest.

Biography of Marco Simoncelli :

• 1987: Born in Cattolica, Italy on January 20

• 1996: Runner-up in the Italian Minimoto Championship

• 1999: Champion of the Italian Minimoto Championship

• 2000: Claims a back-to-back title in the Italian Minimoto Championship and is runner-up in the European Minimoto Championship

• 2001: Moves up to the the Italian 125cc Championship and wins the title in his rookie year

• 2002: Wins the European 125cc title

• 2003: Takes part in his first full season in the 125cc World Championship with the Matteoni Racing team

• 2004: Joins the Rauch Bravo team and wins his first Grand Prix at a rain-soaked Jerez

• 2005: Completes another 125cc campaign with the Nocable.it Race team and finishes fifth in the final standings

• 2006: Moves up to the 250cc class riding for Gilera. Finishes the season in 10th overall with a sixth place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix his best result

• Marco Simoncelli: 1987-2011

• 2008: June – Wins his first 250cc race at the Italian GP in Mugello in controversial circumstances when Hector Barbera crashed into him after Simoncelli appeared to try to block him off

• October – Wins the 250cc World Championship after a successful season with Gilera with a third place finish in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

• 2009: Finishes third overall in the 250cc World Championship behind Japan’s Hiroshi Aoyama and Spain’s Barbera

• 2010: Moves up to ride in his debut MotoGP season for Honda. Finishes 16 of the 18 races en route to eighth place in the championship

• 2011: May – Collides with Dani Pedrosa while battling for second in the French GP. The resulting crash saw Pedrosa break his collarbone and Simoncelli receive a ride-through penalty, eventually finishing fifth. Simoncelli accepted he needed to re-evaluate his driving style and at times be more cautious

• June – Claims his first MotoGP pole at the Catalan GP but a poor start resulted in a sixth placed finish.

• October 23 – Killed in a crash during the Malaysian GP in Sepang.

Source: dailymail and motogp.com