Rising Italian rider Marco Simoncelli lost his life today in a horrific accident at Sunday's Malaysian round of the MotoGP championship at Sepang.

The 24-year-old died of injuries sustained in a crash after he lost control of his motorcycle 4 minutes into the race at turn 11 and swerved across the track into the path of American Colin Edwards and Italy's Valentino Rossi.

The race circuit was immediately red-flagged as Simoncelli lay motionless on the track and organisers later announced it had been cancelled.

Colin [Edwards] fell but escaped with a dislocated shoulder while Rossi was able to return to the pits. Edwards and Valentino are reported to be absolutely devastated.