Today was a tragic day in the MotoGP world. Marco Simoncelli, of the Gresini Honda Racing team, was involved in a fatal crash during the Malaysia GP. The race was red flagged and subsequently cancelled as riders, team owners, pit crews, and fans, mourn the loss of Simoncelli.
After the crash, race direction held a press conference to explain Marco Simoncelli's fatal crash, and the circumstances that resulted in his death. Race direction members Paul Butler, Claude Danis, Franco Uncini and Javier Alonso were joined by Medical Director Doctor Michele Macchiagodena.
Paul Butler opened the press conference, saying: "The purpose of this press conference is to apprise you of the circumstances that resulted in the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli."
When Marco Simoncelli crashed, he was hit by several other riders, including Colin Edwards, who dislocated his shoulder, but is otherwise fine. Race direction also noted that Simoncelli's helmet had come off during the crash. Paul Butler said that it was tragic, and that all circumstances surrounding Simoncelli's fatal crash would be investigated.
Doctor Michele Macchiagodena 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 links
