(CNN) -- Italy's Marco Simoncelli died Sunday as a result of injuries sustained at the Malaysian MotoGP, organizers said.
The tragic accident happened four minutes into the race when Simoncelli came off at Turn 11 of the Sepang circuit.
His Honda bike swerved across the track and he was hit by fellow competitors Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.
Simoncelli, 24, had his helmet knocked off in the crash and he lay motionless on the track.
American Edwards also fell but escaped serious injury, while former multi-world champion Rossi returned unhurt to the pits on his Ducati.
The race was abandoned and Simoncelli was given treatment.
Simoncelli was in fourth place when the accident occurred on lap two.
"Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in the Malaysian MotoGP," read a short statement on the official MotoGP website to confirm the fatality.
It came just a week after the tragic death of two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon at a race in Las Vegas.
On the same day, 2010 MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo crashed as he warmed up for last week's round in Australia and sustained a serious hand injury.
Lorenzo's misfortune meant Australian Casey Stoner wrapped up the world title with two races still to go, Sunday's race in Malaysia, and the final round in Spain.
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