For the second time in the last week, a professional driver has died during a race. MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli was killed in a wreck Sunday, just one week after IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died during the IndyCar finale in Las Vegas.
During the first lap of Sunday's Malaysian MotoGP Grand Prix, Simoncelli lost control of his bike and collided with two other drivers, fellow Italian Valentino Rossi and American Colin Edwards. Simoncelli's helmet was jarred off upon contact and he remained motionless on the track, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
"He was already unconscious when the medical team arrived," MotoGP medical director Michele Macchiagodena said. "We attempted to resuscitate him but failed. He died 45 minutes later."
The race was canceled after the crash.
Despite falling off his bike in the crash, Edwards was not seriously injured. Rossie, who managed to stay on his bike, walked away without serious injury as well.
Below is a video of the crash via YouTube.
Warning: This video contains graphic footage of the crash.
