SEPANG, MALAYSIA (BNO NEWS) -- Italian motorcycle road racer Marco Simoncelli died on Sunday as a result of serious injuries sustained at the Malaysian Grand Prix, organizers said.
Four minutes into the race, Simoncelli fell from his bike and was hit by fellow competitors Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi. The 24-year-old had his helmet knocked off in the crash and lay motionless on the track.
"Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in the Malaysian MotoGP," read a short statement on the official MotoGP website to confirm the fatality.
Edwards also fell but escaped serious injuries while former multi-world champion Rossi returned unhurt to the pits. The race was abandoned and Simoncelli was given treatment, according to CNN.
Rossi, a seven-time world champion in motorcycling's elite category, left the track devastated after the accident which involved his fellow Italian and "good friend" Simoncelli.
The tragic accident comes just a week after English race car driver Dan Wheldon died in a massive 15-car wreck at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada. During lap 11 of the world championship, Wheldon was involved in a serious 15-car accident which also injured three others.
The IZOD IndyCar had not seen a fatality since Paul Dana died of injuries suffered in a crash in the race morning warmup at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006. Wheldon won the race later that day.