(RacingWire) - Italian MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli was killed in a crash during the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit.

Simoncelli was hit by other riders during the incident and received severe head trauma.  Efforts to save him were unsuccessful.

Colin Edwars was also injured in the crash.  He received a dislocated shoulder but he will be fine.

MotoGP medical director Michele Macchiagodena described effots to save Simoncelli, “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.”

There are reports that Simoncelli's helmet came off during the crash.  MotoGp officials declined to comment on that aspect of the crash.  They will conduct an investigation.

The race was halted and subsequently cancelled.

MotoGP officials released the following statement:

On Sunday 23rd October, during the MotoGP race at the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Italian rider Marco Simoncelli suffered a serious accident in which he received critical injuries.

The race was stopped immediately with the red flag and Simoncelli was transported by ambulance to the circuit medical centre where the medical staff worked to resuscitate him.

Despite their efforts, Marco sadly succumbed to his injuries at 4.56pm local time.

Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Marco’s family, friends and team at this tragic loss.