Marco Simoncelli passes away

Flamboyant Italian Marco Simoncelli has died from injuries sustained in an horriffic crash in this afternoon’s Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. He was 24.

Simoncelli was fighting for fourth with Spaniard Alvaro Bautista on lap two at Sepang when he lost the front of his bike and slid across the circuit at turn 11, straight into the path of Colin Edwards and great mate Valentino Rossi, both of whom appeared to hit the Honda. Neither Edwards or Rossi could avoid the incident, and the race was immediately red flagged.

Simoncelli, the 2008 250cc world champion, lay motionless on the track after the crash, his helmet having come off during the sickening incident.

He was taken by ambulance to the circuit's medical centre, but at 4:56pm local time he had succumbed to his injuries. A stellar career cut short in a desperately sad way.

The race was cancelled following the crash.

The death is the first fatality in MotoGP since Japan’s Daijiro Katoh died from injuries sustained at the 2003 Japanese GP.

Simoncelli was one of the sport’s rising stars, a charismatic 24-year-old who rode with his heart. He was as passionate on the track as he was off, and sometimes that got him in trouble. His was an aggressive style that didn't always suit the venue, but he was maturing as a rider.

This season he earned his first two MotoGP podiums and his first two MotoGP pole positions. Only a week ago, he finished a career best second in MotoGP race at the Australian Grand Prix, taking the runner-up spot to Casey Stoner with a brilliant last lap pass of Andrea Dovizioso

Photos from that day show Simoncelli standing out on the podium, which he also did in life. It wasn't just because he was one of the taller riders in MotoGP, and it wasn't just for the blossoming, bushy hair that paid homage to guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, but it was because of his outsized personality and his passion for winning.

Tributes have already started flowing in for Simoncelli, who had a huge fan base throughout the world – both for being such a charismatic person and his aggressive nature on the race track.

Stoner said: “I’m so shocked and saddened by the loss of Marco. When things like this happen it reminds you how precious life is, it makes me feel sick inside. All I can say is how sorry I am for Marco's whole family I can't imagine what they are all going through and our thoughts and wishes are with them at this time. I hope they all stay close and pull through this tragedy together.”

Edwards and Rossi have not spoken about the incident -- and we don't expect them to for a long time. That especially holds for Rossi, who was Simoncelli's best friend in the paddock. Could Rossi now decide to call it a day after this tragedy?

RIP Marco.