Pau Alsina: JuniorGP World Championship star dies aged 17 following horror crash

A rising motorcyclestar has died aged just 17 after a horror racing smash.

Pau Alsina sustained head injuries when he was thrown from his bike. He died in hospital on Monday two days after the crasg, which happened during the JuniorGP World Championship at the MotorLand Aragón circuit, near Alcañiz, eastern Spain.

Pau was rushed to a hospital in Zaragoza, where he underwent emergency surgery. Despite the swift medical intervention, the 17-year-old racing star died from his injuries.

The teenager, from Sallent in Catalonia, began riding motorcycles aged three. He was one of the standout talents in the Estrella Galicia 0,0 team and had already started making a name for himself in this season's JuniorGP World Championship.

READ MORE: Rally champion, 21, killed in 'very violent' crash as tributes paid to tragic star

READ MORE: Oulton Park rider injured in horror bike smash reveals two factors behind fatal crash

Pau was ranked 13th in the overall standings and had scored points in every race except the first. He was also competing in the Italian CIV Moto3 Championship, where he sat in fourth place overall with two podium finishes to his name.

He was among a new generation of Spanish riders tipped for greatness. Pau often said in interviews that his idols were the Márquez and Espargaró brothers.

His team said in a statement: "Pau's commitment, energy, and always positive and warm attitude will remain with us forever. Rest in peace, Pau. We love you." The Sallent City Council held a day of mourning yesterday and a minute's silence in the youngster's memory.

Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez posted his condolences to Pau Alsina in an Instagram story, writing: "No words. How unfair life is. Rest in peace, Pau."

The circumstances of the crash are not yet clear and remain under investigation. The tragic news comes just weeks after another Spanish rider, Borja Gómez from Murcia, of the Stock class, passed away following an accident while preparing for the previous race event as part of the circuit, in Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France.

Last year, a MotoGP star was airlifted to hospital after being involved in a 120mph crash during the Australian Grand Prix Sprint race. Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi hit the back of Spain's Maverick Vinales on the first corner at the Phillip Island circuit. The two riders both went flying off their bikes, with the incident described as a "massive crash" by the MotoGP commentator.

But Vinales has been declared fit after the incident but Bezzecchi was airlifted to hospital in Melbourne to undergo a full checkup. Despite impacting at 120mph, Bezzecchi is understood not to have suffered any fractures or serious injuries.