Sepang circuit defends safety records after Simoncelli’s death

Officials at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia defended the track’s safety record, even as the motor racing world mourns the death of MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli.

The 24—year old Italian rider died after he lost control of his bike and crashed into two other riders at the Malaysian MotoGP race on Sunday.

Circuit Chairman Mokhzani Mahathir said it is conducting a joint investigation with Dorna Sports, the organizer of the MotoGP and FIM, the world’s governing body for motorcycle sports.

Both he and SIC Chief Executive Razlan Razali maintained that the track, which also hosted the Formula One races, was not the issue, as it was built according to FIM specifications.

“This unfortunate incident is purely a racing incident. SIC and MotoGP is strictly regulated by FIM and the safety commission and we have complied to their SOPs (standard operating procedures). Our medical team acted on the best international motorsport standards and practice, but unfortunately Marco’s injury were too severe,” Razlan told dpa.

An official autopsy was performed on Simoncelli Monday morning at a government hospital. Razlan said a full report will only be available in six weeks.

But preliminary result shows that Simoncelli died of chest, head and neck injuries, which jibes with what MotoGP medical director Michele Macchiagodena said, according to Razlan.

Simoncelli’s body will be flown back to Rome Monday night, accompanied by his family.