SEPANG, Malaysia - Celebrated Italian rider Marco Simoncelli died on Sunday after a crash that resulted in the cancelation of the Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang, in the latest tragedy to hit motor sports.

The smash occurred just minutes after the race began when the 24-year-old Honda rider's bike veered across the track and into the path of riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.

Simoncelli had his helmet knocked off in the collision, which happened on turn 11.