Marco Simoncelli, 1987-2011
Added on Monday, October 24th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Marco Simoncelli, 1987-2011
The world of motorsport was already overshadowed on Sunday as the red lights went out in Malaysia and yet, on the day that at memorial was held for British Indycar driver Dan Wheldon, racing would lose one another of its brightest stars.
A true racer, Marco Simoncelli often found himself on the wrong side of both his rivals and race officials. His racing style may have been controversial, it may have been aggressive, but it was nothing but captivating. His personality in the paddock and his outlandish hair earned him fans across the globe.
Those traits prompted fans to draw comparisons with his compatriot, Valentino Rossi, one of two riders who unavoidably struck Simoncelli has he slid across the circuit. Rossi, who was too upset to speak in the aftermath, left a tribute via Twitter on Sunday night.
“Sic [Simoncelli] for me was like a youngest brother. So strong on track and so sweet in the normal life. I will miss him a lot.”
Born in Cattolica, Italy in 1987, Simoncelli was a born racer. By age nine, he had claimed second place in the Italian Minimoto Championship. By age 13, he had claimed back-to-back titles.
Simoncelli joined the MotoGP paddock in 2002 in the 125cc series and soon began to shine. In 2005, he claimed one race victory and six podiums, earning him a step up to the 250 series with Gilera. In 2008, he won the championship and earned a ride in the premier class.
After finding his feet in his rookie season in 2010, Simoncelli appeared to be destined for big things in 2011. In pre-season, he regularly out-paced the championship favourites and throughout the year, there were glimpses of a true champion.
Prior to Malaysia, Simoncelli had qualified for the front row on seven occasions this year. His problem was turning those grid positions into podiums but then again, that’s racing. The number 58 bike would never be seen merely trying to hold position and defend third place; it would always be charging down on the bike in front, looking for a way through. His detractors would argue that such a mentality is why he caused Jorge Lorenzo to crash in Assen, or why Dani Pedrosa had to sit out three races with a broken collarbone, but he had been one of the true highlights in a rather stale 2011 series. Marco didn’t let the race marshals or his dissenters change his style. Instead, it made him more determined. Motorsport would be very dull if it weren’t for people like that.
Simoncelli leaves us, aged just 24, without claiming the MotoGP victory that his talent, his enthusiasm and his exuberance so richly deserved. The man came into the world to be a racer and he left the world a racer.
Rest in peace, #58.
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