Race organisers have confirmed that Italian rider Andrea Antonelli died after a high-speed crash on the opening lap of a World Supersport Championship race at the Moscow Raceway on Sunday.

Kawasaki Go Eleven rider Antonelli died after losing control of his ZX-6R bike in rainy weather and crashing during the opening lap, said Tatiana Makhina, a spokeswoman for the Moscow Raceway organisers.

After crashing, the 25-year old Antonelli was struck by a fellow rider. Antonelli was quickly treated by an emergency medical team, but died of injuries at the circuit’s medical centre shortly after.

Officials called off the race, and the day's headline World Superbike Championship event. Russia's federal investigative committee was looking into the accident, the Russian Itar-Tass news agency reported.