ITALIAN rider Marco Simoncelli died of chest, head and neck injuries yesterday after crashing and being hit by two other riders at the Malaysian MotoGP motorcycle race.

The man who runs the Brands Hatch circuit has hit out at the company behind the World Superbike Championship after the Kent venue was left off the provisional calendar for next year.

Qatar will hold its first-ever motorcycle grand prix next year after being named on the provisional 2004 calendar.

UNPOPULAR President Alejandro Toledo has declared a state of emergency across Peru, promising to send out the armed forces to help rein in a wave of violent strikes that has crippled transit and public services in a new challenge to a stormy presidency.

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi could miss the FIM‘s annual awards ceremony in his native Italy on Saturday.