RIP ~ Marco Simoncelli

he was just 24 years old

One of MotoGP's upcoming riders Marco Simoncelli was involved in a serious accident during the Sepang Moto GP race in which his helmet was ripped off leaving him in a serious condition, and succumbed to his injuries at 4:55 local time in Malaysia..

thats two deaths in a race in two weeks ...Dan Wheldon's death last week

Honda MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli of Italy (in white) falling before being hit by Yamaha’s Colin Edwards of the United States (in black) and Ducati’s Valentino Rossi of Italy (right) at the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang yesterday.

It is the first fatal crash at the Sepang International Circuit since it opened in 1999.

credit to : thestar & dailymail.co.uk

Agony: Marco Simoncelli's father is comforted as he waits outside a medical centre where the rider was taken following a crash at the Malaysian Grand Prix

Sorrow: Honda team members (above and below) react to the sad news

Losing control: Simoncelli (No 58) crashed on the second lap of the race, riding between Edwards and Valentino Rossi

Emergency: Race marshalls quickly arrive at the scene to assist the stricken Sim

Wheeled away: Track officials remove Simoncelli's motorcycle after the dreadful accident

Newly-crowned champion Casey Stoner admitted immediately after the crash he had feared for Simoncelli.
'As soon as I saw the footage it just makes you sick inside,' the Australian told BBC2.

Cancelled: Rubbish covers the track after the race was aband

Delivering the news: MotoGp officials relay the tragic announcement

Formula One driver Mark Webber tweeted: 'R.I.P Marco A special talent that will be missed... Thinking of your loved ones, and all the motogp paddock..mark.'
A message on Simoncelli's Gresini Honda team website read simply 'CIAO "SUPER SIC"'.

Support: Simoncelli's girlfriend Kate is consoled by a TV crew member following her partner's tragic crash

Devastating: Paolo Simoncelli, Marco's father, is comforted by his son's manager Carlo Pernat outside the medical centre following the accident

The Rizla Suzuki team wrote: 'All at Rizla Suzuki are deeply affected by today's tragic events and send their deepest condolences to Marco's family and friends during this time of great loss.
'R.I.P Marco Simoncelli, 20 January 1987 - 23 October 2011 - A true competitor.'
Of the other riders involved, Edwards suffered a dislocated shoulder after being thrown from his bike, while Rossi managed to limp back to the pits.

MARCO SIMONCELLI: 1987 - 2011

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.

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