Race Direction speaks about the accident of Marco Simoncelli

Normally, on a race day at this point, we would be starting to write up each team’s conclusions to tell you how each of them saw the Grand Prix. But as you already know, today has been a very tragic day for motorcycle racing, as Marco Simoncelli lost his life at the Sepang circuit at the age of 24.

Given this event, all the teams are setting aside results and opinions about the Malaysian Grand Prix, and they are joining together in a common message: to say goodbye to a great rider, the irreplaceable 58.

Due to the special nature this day has taken on, the members of Race Direction Paul Butler, Claude Danis, Franco Uncini and Javier Alonso appeared at a press conference together with the Medical Director, Michele Macchiagodena.

At this press conference, they tried to explain the circumstances in which Marco Simoncelli’s death occurred, so these are their words.

Paul Butler (First to speak)

The purpose of this press conference is to assess the circumstances that led to the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli. You already know the people appearing here: Claude Danis, who is the FIM representative, Javier Alonso, representative of Dorna, Franco Uncini, representing the riders, and I am Paul Butler, representative of IRTA and the Race Director. Michele Macchiagodena is our medical director and he will explain the circumstances that led to this death.

Michele Macchiagodena (Second speaker)

I am very sad to be here to report on the death of Marco Simoncelli, a friend.

Due to the fall he suffered during the race, in which he was run over by other riders, he sustained very serious trauma to the head, neck and chest. When our medical team reached him, he was unconscious. In the ambulance, because he was suffering a cardiac arrest, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was started. Immediately afterwards, at the Medical Centre, with the help also of our medical staff from the Clinica Mobile and local doctors, he was intubated and some blood could be drawn from the chest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation continued for 45 minutes, as we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible.

Unfortunately it was not possible to save him, and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare that he had died.

Paul Butler (Responding about the loss of Marco Simoncelli’s helmet)

I think I can answer this question, but it will be on another occasion. It is clear that the consequences and the circumstances surrounding this accident will be investigated thoroughly.

The journalists were also concerned about the physical condition of Colin Edwards, who was involved in the incident, to which Michele Macchiagodena replied: