MOTOGP: Ciao Marco: Tribute’s pour out for fallen hero #58 ‘Supe

Marco Simoncelli arrived in Sepang last week still buoyant after his best ever finish in his short but eventful MotoGP career of second place at the Australian GP in Philip Island. But the motorsports world has cruelly been robbed of another bright star when Simoncelli was fatally injured in Sunday’s Shell Advance Malaysian Grand Prix.

The news of the 24-year-old’s passing immediately sent shockwaves around the world as the details slowly came through about the incident involving the San Carlo Honda Gresini rider along with American Colin Edwards and Italian MotoGP legend, and close friend of Marco’s, Valentino Rossi. ‘Super Sic’ as he was fondly known, was pronounced dead at 4:56pm (Malaysia time) on October 24, 2011 despite the best efforts of the series and track medical staff.

The MotoGP paddock was embraced in grief and as the news of Simoncelli’s death was reported to the individual teams, tributes immediately began to pour out to the tragic rider’s parents Paolo and Rossella Simoncelli who were both present at the circuit.

Since entering the premier class of motorcycle grand prix racing, Simoncelli was as fast as he was flamboyant and seemed on the verge of his first MotoGP victory while looking forward to another year in the premier class with the Gresini squad. Racing alongside MotoGP greats like his good friend Rossi was what Simoncelli dreamed of. Rossi released a short statement later that day simply saying, “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.”

Like most modern Italian motorcycle racers Simoncelli began his journey to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing in the Italian Minimoto Championships before entering the Italian 125cc and European Championships, followed later by his entering the 125cc World Championship with Aprilia in 2003. Three years and a best championship position of 5th saw Simoncelli move to the 250cc class with Gilera. He would eventually claim the 2008 crown and following with a third place championship finish in 2009, he moved to the Gresini squad for the 2010 MotoGP Championship...

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