The Malaysian MotoGP was cancelled four minutes after the race began on Sunday when Honda rider Marco Simoncelli fell and was hit by Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.
The 24-year-old Simoncelli had his helmet knocked off in the accident, which occurred when the Italian lowsided from his bike at Turn 11.
His bike veered across the track and straight into the path of Edwards and Rossi. The race was immediately red-flagged.
An official has since announced that "it is official. He is dead. He succumbed to his injuries".
Simoncelli, who was motionless on the track after the impact, had been fourth at the end of lap one.
