• MotoGP riders' safety representative says track was safe
• Tributes pour in for Italian rider who died on Sunday

As the tributes poured in for Italy's Marco Simoncelli, who died following a crash during the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang on Sunday, other riders were warned that the fatality was unpreventable.

Franco Uncini, the MotoGP riders' safety representative, said in a radio interview: "I think we've done plenty for safety and we are very satisfied. Unfortunately in our hands we don't have the power to change fate. When it comes, there's nothing we can do. We must accept what comes defencelessly. Nothing else can be done.

"There was an abundance of safety there, the circuit is perfectly inside the limits of safety as per our requests. What happened was a crash like many others. The only problem is that the bikes were close to one another so two other riders arrived and hit Marco's head and neck. That's what made the crash so dramatic."

Uncini may sound a little complacent but he was left in a coma himself after a similar incident in the 1983 Dutch TT-Assen.

He paid his own tribute to Simoncelli, who died from head, neck and chest injuries when he slid into the path of two other riders, Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, and lost his helmet.

Uncini said: "On top of being an exceptional rider, he was an exceptional character, funny, friendly and intelligent too. He was also part of the safety commission. When we'd meet on Fridays, with Valentino, himself, Loris Capirossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, he was always very intelligent by always saying very sensible and important things.

"He was very constructive, not destructive and very good professionally. He cared a lot for the safety aspect and he was always present at these meetings. The last time was last Friday, before the grand prix."

The seven-time world champion Rossi said on Twitter: "Sic for me was like a youngest brother, so strong on track and so sweet in the normal life. I will miss him a lot." Simoncelli's manager, Carlo Pernat, said: "Marco was a cheery boy, everyone's friend. He had expectations, dreams. He was a boy from days gone by, with a wonderful family who taught him good values. It's terrible, there are no words, everyone's very upset, he could have become world champion one day."

Formula One's Jenson Button said on Twitter: "RIP Marco … Such an exciting talent lost. My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone involved in MotoGP. Sometimes Motorsport can be so cruel…"