The World Superbike website has released the following statement regarding the tragic death of World Supesport rider Andrea Antonelli:
During today’s FIM World Supersport race, at 1.32pm Italian rider Andrea Antonelli (Team Goeleven Kawasaki) suffered a serious accident on the straight between Turn 14 and Turn 15 wherein he sustained critical injuries.
The race was stopped with the red flag and the rider was immediately taken to an ambulance where the medical staff worked to resuscitate him.
Despite their efforts, Andrea sadly succumbed to his injuries at 2.10pm local time.
FIM, Dorna and YMS Promotion decided to cancel all activities scheduled for the rest of the day.
Everyone involved in motorcycle championships extends its deepest condolences to Andrea’s family, friends, team and Italian Federation at this tragic loss.
A minute of silence in Andrea’s memory will be held at Laguna Seca before the race.
Andrea Antonelli was just 25-years old when he tragically lost his life in today’s Supersport race in Moscow.
We’ll try to avoid any controversy regarding the track conditions and the complete lack of visibility (the video is after the jump) that may have lead to Lorenzo Zanetti crashing into the downed rider, and the fact that the afternoon races were first officially cancelled due to the horrible weather conditions, and prefer to talk about the late rider’s racing career.
Born on January 17, 1988 in Castiglione del Lago (Perugia) Antonelli began his racingcareer in minimotos and in 2002 joined the Skizzato team riding an Aprila 125 and taking part in the Coppa Italia and taking his first victory at Magione (only Marco Melandri was younger than he was when he won his race at that circuit).
In 2003 Antonelli moved to the team Leardini riding a Honda 125 GP in the Italian and European championship, and two years later he would ride a Kawasaki for Lightspeed and race in European Superstock 600 championship and finish 6th overall with, with two third place podiums at Assen and Imola, and a year later would finish 5th overall.
In 2007, with team Italia Megabike AX 52, he would win at Assen and take home four second places and become the runner-up of Superstock 600 class. In 2008 he moved up to the World Superstock 1000 FIM Cup riding a Honda and also take part in two races in the Supersport championship in Qatar and Australia.
2009 saw him in the Trasimeno Yamaha Italia team and 2010 back on a Honda for team Lorini where he finished fourth overall in the Superstock championship and 6th the following year.
Last year the Italian switched to World Supersport championship were he finished 9th and this year he was riding Kawasaki ZX-6r for Go Eleven, and his best result was a fourth place at Aragon and today he had started fourth on the grid when the tragic accident occured.
