The death of Italian Moto GP rider Marco Simoncelli has shocked the motor racing world. Aged just 24, he died earlier today when his bike veered across the track at turn 11 in Sepang and into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi. He had his helmet knocked off and was hit by both other riders. Sports Mole takes a closer look at the career of the former 250cc champion.

Born in Cattolica, Simoncelli began his racing career in the Italian Minimoto Championship from 1996 to 2000.

After excelling at that standard, a youthful Simoncelli moved on to the 125cc format of the sport.

Having bedded in among his fellow competitors, he went on to claim victory in the European 125cc title in 2002.

Such success prompted a call from World Championship team Matteoni Racing and then Rauch Bravo, providing him with a taste of Grand Prix action.

It would be with the Rauch Bravo team that he would taste his first success at a Grand Prix standard in Jerez. However, the remainder of the 2004 season would prove to be largely unsuccessful and he ended the campaign in 11th.

Improvement would follow though and in 2007 he made the switch into the quarter-litre category.

The move to 250cc would prove to be successful, claiming five wins throughout the season, before eventually capturing the title with a third place finish in Malaysia.

His form meant that premier racing teams in Moto GP could no longer ignore the up and coming Italian and in 2009 it was announced that he would ride for Honda.

Simoncelli's first podium finish came in the Czech Republic in August this year when he finished third but he bettered that with a second-place finish at the Australian GP.

Simoncelli's death comes a week after British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was killed in Las Vegas following a 15-car crash.