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Simoncelli also had his helmet knocked off in the accident and the race was immediately red-flagged. The Honda rider first entered MotoGP for the 2010 season. 

He won his first pole position at the Catalunya race in June this year. The accident happened at Turn 11 when his bike veered across the track straight into the path of Edwards and Rossi.

Simoncelli, who was motionless on the track after the impact, had been fourth at the end of lap one after Edwards also fell but escaped serious injury, while Rossi, on a Ducati, was able to return to the pits.

World champion Casey Stoner said: "As soon as I saw the footage it just makes you sick inside.

"Whenever the helmet comes off that's not a good sign."

Simoncelli's first podium finish came in the Czech Republic in August when he finished third but he bettered that with a second-place finish at the Australian GP.

The Italian started in the 125cc class in 2002 and moved up to the 250cc class in 2006. He claimed the 250cc world title in 2008.

Simoncelli was involved in an accident with Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi during the 2011 Malaysian GP at the Sepang International Circuit. In fourth position during lap two, Simoncelli's bike veered across the track and straight into the path of Edwards and Rossi. Edwards was injured with a dislocated shoulder, while Simoncelli lay still on the track after the crash, his helmet having come off during the incident. The race was immediately red-flagged. 

 

He was taken by ambulance to the circuit's medical centre, but at 16:56 local time it was announced that he had died from his injuries. Later, at a press conference involving members of the MotoGP Race Direction, Medical Director Michele Macchiagodena said that Simoncelli sustained "a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest", and was administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 45 minutes.