Australia’s world champion Casey Stoner says he felt “sick right through” after Italian rival Marco Simoncelli was killed in a crash at the Malaysian MotoGP.
“When something like this happens you remember how precious life is,” Stoner said.
“I feel sick right through, I can only say my thoughts are for his family.”
The smash occurred just minutes after the race at Sepang began, when the mop-haired 24-year-old Honda rider lost control and veered across the track into the path of riders Colin Edwards and Simoncelli’s compatriot Valentino Rossi.
Simoncelli, who ironically enjoyed his finest hour at Sepang when he clinched the 2008 season’s 250cc title here, had his helmet knocked off in the collision, which left him face down and motionless on the asphalt.
He suffered “very serious trauma to the head, neck and the chest” and later went into cardiac arrest, MotoGP medical director Michele Macchiagodena told reporters.
“Despite their (doctors’) efforts, Marco sadly succumbed to his injuries at 4:56pm local time (0856 GMT),” MotoGP said in a sombre statement.
“Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Marco’s family, friends and team at this tragic loss.”
The race was cancelled in the wake of the crash.
Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa echoed Stoner’s feeling of disbelief.
“After a tragedy like that there’s not much you can say. I saw Marco’s father and the only thing we could do was to hold each other hard in our arms.
“We often forget this is a dangerous sport. It’s obvious we are doing what we want to do but nothing is worth a day like this.”
Motor sports have endured a nightmare stretch and Simoncelli’s death looked certain to throw up more awkward questions over safety.
Last weekend two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died in a 15-car crash in Las Vegas in Indy Car.
The race at the Sepang circuit was immediately red-flagged and organisers later announced it had been cancelled.
Edwards also fell and suffered a separated shoulder, a race doctor said, while Rossi rode away unscathed.
Rossi, racing for Ducati, left the track devastated at the death of his “good friend”, Ducati team manager Vittoriano Gureschi told AFP.
“Valentino is shocked by this incident. Valentino is a strong man but this incident is a big tragedy. He has lost a good friend,” he said.
“Marco is a wonderful person. He is friendly with everybody. He loved this sport,” Gureschi said.
Sepang is a notoriously tricky circuit due to Malaysia’s heat, humidity and frequent rain, but conditions on Sunday, although hot, were fine.
Spain’s Pedrosa had seized pole position a day before despite taking a tumble, as did Rossi.
Before the race, Sepang officials had promised special attention on safety following the previous weekend.
“It is a sad back-to-back weekend for motorsports,” Sepang Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir told reporters after Simoncelli’s death was announced.
“We try our best to avoid incidents and prepare for the worst. You see, 99 percent of the time, riders falling and walking away. Only one percent do not.”
Race director Paul Butler promised a thorough investigation.
The last fatal crash in the world motorcycling championship was last year when Japan’s Shoya Tomizawa was killed.
Although there is a final race in Spain still to come, Stoner has already secured the 2011 championship with his win last weekend in a highly eventful Australian Grand Prix.
The flamboyant and well-liked Simoncelli’s death sparked grief in Italy, where officials announced sports events would observe a minute’s silence.
Italian football giants Inter and AC Milan were among clubs to offer their commiserations.
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