    Sepang, October 23 2011 was to be 24 year old Marco Simoncelli's last race where the first lap of the race also became the promising Italian's last full lap. What could easily have ended in just a minor racing incident turned into one of the the biggest tragedies MotoGP has seen since Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini both died in a pile up at the 1973 Monza GP. By: Tor Sagen/Photography: Honda Racing Corporation/AGVSimoncelli's first lap consisted of an eventful exchange of positions, corner to corner racing, between the Italian and Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista. Just before the fatal crash it was Simoncelli that was in front. Whilst pushing through the first corner on lap 2 Simoncelli lost control in what looked like a low-sider and he fell off his #58 Honda San Carlo Gresini 800cc MotoGP bike. The problem was that the rear tyre started gripping again and whilst Simoncelli tried to keep the throttle going the bike was spun back in towards the middle of the circuit rather than out towards the gravel trap. This sent Simoncelli right into the path of Colin Edwards Yamaha and Valentino Rossi's Ducati where Edwards first hit Simoncelli in the back and then Rossi hit Simoncelli in the upper body region. One or both of these impacts caused Simoncelli's helmet to be ripped off. Only a miracle can save you when that sort of force is applied to the neck area. Simoncelli then continued sliding along the tarmac completely lifeless. Medical staff performed CPR and it was reported that at some point Simoncelli had regained consciousness but suffered Cardiac Arrest as a result of the multiple traumas (see below). After 45 minutes of CPR medical staff pronounced Marco Simoncelli dead. The race director had in the meantime cancelled the race when the seriousness of Simoncelli's injuries became evident. One of the most important reasons for Race Direction to do so is so that the medical staff can concentrate 100% on current injuries. Colin Edwards suffered a dislocated shoulder and Rossi miraculously managed to regain control of his Ducati but was visibly shaken by the freak accident. Michele Macchiagodena (Medical Director) said: “I’m very sad to be here to report about the death of Marco Simoncelli, a friend. 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. When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation). Immediately in the Medical Centre, with the help also of the Doctor of our staff at the Clinica Mobile and local Doctors, he was intubated and it was possible to take off some blood from the thorax. The CPR was continued for 45 minutes because we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible. Unfortunately it was not possible to help him and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare he was dead.” Marco Simoncelli was born on January 20th in Cattolica near the Misano GP circuit. Shuhei Nakamoto, HRC Executive Vice President, says "I just don't know what to say; words escape me. Marco was a very nice guy and a very talented rider. Sometimes I was a little harsh with him, for example after his first MotoGP podium in Brno when I told him, 'Lucky podium!' and he was so angry, but I wanted to motivate him as I knew he was able to do even more. I was thinking that when he won his first race we would have been able to celebrate together. Now I just want to say thank you to Marco, for what you gave me, and pass my sincere condolences to his family at this very sad time." Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa says, "In a tragedy like this there is not much to say. I just want to give my condolences to his family and all the people who love him. I've been with his father and all we could do was to hug, nothing else matters. It was a fatal accident and everybody in the paddock remains in shock. Many times we ourselves forget how dangerous this sport can be and when you lose people on the way nothing has any meaning. It's clear that we all do what we like, what we love, but on days like today nothing matters." Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso says, "In these circumstances, words don't seem to be appropriate. I think of Marco's family and all the people dear to him, in particular his father and mother. I also have a child and what happened today is the hardest situation you can imagine. I watched the images and I'm shocked. In a race you fight and push hard and disaster is often around the corner. Marco was a strong rider and he always pushed hard. We raced together since we were kids. I saw him always pushing to the maximum, he crashed many times, but without major injuries, he was seemed invincible. What happened today seems impossible." Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner says, "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." Photos from the 2011 season.                   
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