How to kill a motor?

[DaveG28]

Had a very nearly new Novak 5.5L conk out on me today, just stopped working at all!? Is it possible to kill them from overheating, you could smell the burning at the end of each race from the motor up to the round where it went pop, so wondered if I've killed it that way, or if it might be worth me sending it off to Novak or someone as its so new?

Alternatively, what else might have gone wrong!?