Marco Simoncelli: MotoGP remembers late rider in Misano

By Steve ParrishBBC motorcycling commentator

Last updated on .From the section MotoGPcomments30

Marco Simoncelli

After a three-week break, MotoGP returns this weekend at Misano, where the late, great Marco Simoncelli will be in everyone's thoughts.

The Italian was killed in a crash in Malaysia last October but lived less than five miles from the Misano circuit in his hometown of Cattolica.

The circuit has been renamed in his memory, which is a lovely touch, and it will be an emotional time for everyone.

The riders are all doing a lap of the circuit on push bikes in his honour and it brings home what a loss he is. It is less than a year since he died but a lot has happened in that time, so it will be good to get everyone thinking about him again.

We all miss him and the sport really did lose a star. How many races would he have won by now?

BBC presenter Matt Roberts has done his bit by taking part in a mammoth bike ride from Donington to Misano - let's just hope he makes it in time for the race!

It is also a massive weekend for Northern Ireland's Jonny Rea, who is filling in for the injured Casey Stoner on the Repsol Honda.

It is hard enough doing your first MotoGP. It is even harder when it comes three-quarters of the way through a season and everyone else has those races under their belts. And it is harder again when you are riding a full factory bike.

Talk about the odds stacked up against him. It is going to be very difficult.

He needs to control his emotions and go out there and ride his best. He is a very experienced and fast guy, but going from world superbikes to MotoGP is like going from driving a touring car to a Formula 1 car.

It took Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland time to adjust, but Jonny has only had three days of testing, so we should not expect too much.

The other way of looking at it is that this is an extremely rare chance to get onto the world champion's bike. You could never turn a chance like that down and he must have jumped at it.

What is a good result for him? It's hard to say but if he can finish ahead of one of the other riders on a prototype bike and ahead of the CRT bikes, then he will have done very well indeed.

I am not sure what this weekend means for his future, but I want to see Jonny in MotoGP.

He must be in Honda's thoughts for the future, but there are not many seats available for 2013. Until the ink is dry on every contract, then anything can happen.

At the front, the title race is now down to 13 points between Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, so we are in for one of the great season finales.

In some ways, Pedrosa is in the better position in second as he has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

He has never won the championship before, he is coming from the back and he is riding superbly, having won the last two races.

It is hard for Jorge. He cannot make any mistakes but he cannot keep losing out either.

This is a two-horse race and you just cannot call it at the moment. It could come down to whoever makes the fewest mistakes, but let us hope it is decided by some top-quality racing, starting on Sunday.

Steve's Misano predictions:

1. Dani Pedrosa 2. Jorge Lorenzo 3. Cal Crutchlow

Steve Parrish was talking to BBC Sport's Tom Rostance

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30 comments

  • Comment posted by U14648640, at 15:47 13 Sep 2012

    @skwagi - not popular? I went to Silverstone last year, Matt Roberts introduced all the riders on the stage Sat night, Simo was dilberately held to the end and got the biggest cheer of the night. I also saw Colin Edwards talking at a sponsor promo and he recalled a recent race against Simo and the respect he had for him.

  • Comment posted by TheHotHead, at 08:39 14 Sep 2012

    @Skwagi - you are talking utter nonsense !!

    Some riders had a problem with Simoncelli but others didn't, in fact others, like the greatest rider of all time - Rossi, adored Simoncelli !
    When Lorenzo went to MotoGP he couldn't stop crashing. Yes Marco was a little over-zealous at times but this is the life of a motorbike rider.
    Its easy for you to run off your mouth Mr Armchair expert !

    No58 RIP

  • Comment posted by U15423768, at 12:32 13 Sep 2012

    @skwagi

    All fallen riders should be remembered for their bravery. Would you get on a GP and push it to its limits? No? didnt think so.

    I love that they've renamed the circuit in his memory. I hope it will be a good race. Definitely will be an emotional one.

    Ciao Marco, E 'stato un piacere guardare la tua carriera #58

  • Comment posted by U10589228, at 09:30 13 Sep 2012

    @4. skawg

    It's a dangerous, tough sport skwag. You don't like it go watch handball. That sounds up your street.

    Never forget, is death was a tragic accident.

    Let me quote Ayrton Senna, then see if you've got any more bile to spew on this.
    "And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you're no longer a racing driver, because we are competing.We are competing to win..."

  • Comment posted by pete burkitt, at 09:12 13 Sep 2012

    the guy was great for the sport he always rode the bike like he had stole it and would have gone on to be up there with the greats of motorcycle racers, sadly missed by all, RIP.. marco

  • Comment posted by theblackant, at 19:14 14 Sep 2012

    Marco 58 RIP. The Toseland tribute was with Manchester band The Rainband and shows the high regard felt for Marco.

  • Comment posted by suzyp, at 14:50 14 Sep 2012

    @skwagi this is a page to show respect not show contempt...........

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 13:55 13 Sep 2012

    Gotta think Marco would've got Stoner's or Spies ride and been in with a shot of the title next year. What a great shame he was taken from his fans, his friends and most importantly his family way too soon.

  • Comment posted by Mark L, at 13:40 13 Sep 2012

    Simmo could have been a great, tragically that is a debate that will never be answered. I for one miss his character on and off the race track. If he brought us nothing else, he brought a smile to our faces. RIP #58

  • Comment posted by Mayo, at 11:30 13 Sep 2012

    @skwagi

    Marco was great, he was extremely talented and exciting to watch. His accident was tragic and blameless and could have happened to anyone. I believe as well as Marco there will be a rememberance for Shoya Tomizawa, who was killed at Misano in 2010 in the moto2 race.

    This is a blog for fans to remember and celebrate a true great of motoGP. Not the time to start bad mouthing him. Ciao #58

  • Comment posted by Lockers, at 09:32 13 Sep 2012

    @4.skwagi

    Yeah, that's right, Marco was such an unpopular rider that's why he has a race circuit named after him and all of his fellow riders are planning to ride the circuit in his honour, other than that everyone couldn't stand the bloke................

    RIP Marco - a great talent sadly missed

  • Comment posted by Spurs4ev3r, at 07:39 13 Sep 2012

    What a beautiful way to remember a great guy, RIP Marco.

  • Comment posted by diamonds, at 07:00 13 Sep 2012

    Reading about the name change shows that there are still decent people out there. To me Marco was all that was good about MotoGP. Flamboyant but full of skill, but humble also. He clearly didn't reach his full potential and the Misana GP will be the perfect way to remember him.

  • Comment posted by U14541943, at 20:52 14 Sep 2012

    a couple of posts here have said how they were affected by Marco's death - well, here is another one. RIP and huge thanks to the young, brilliant, flamboyant, sometimes reckless but always exciting Marco Simoncelli.

  • Comment posted by sheffgraph, at 19:20 14 Sep 2012

    skwagi: You clearly didn't like Simoncelli and nobody's suggesting you have to, even following his death BUT to say he was unpopular is simply not correct. I work for MotoGP here in Spain and I can tell you for a fact that Simoncelli was incredibly popular, not least of all among Spanish journalists who had more reasons than most to take another view following his clashes with Lorenzo and Pedrosa.

  • Comment posted by U14405641, at 13:39 13 Sep 2012

    Marco Simoncelli was a great rider...I loved his style, charisma and humour. I miss him and I will never forget him. It is a lovely gesture to re-name the Misano circuit in his memory. Marco's family have also set up a foundation in his name which is doing great work for good causes.

    Ciao Marco...58 nel cuore per sempre!

  • Comment posted by NoHope NoChance, at 11:22 13 Sep 2012

    @13

    "This is a short-sighted comment"

    Sorry you see it that way but Rea claimed a couple of years back he would kick Rossi's ass - now maybe he is realising thats not going to be so easy. You have to jump up a level from WSB to MotoGp - lots have tried and failed. However I have seen more go the other way and be successful - some riders can adapt and some cannot.

  • Comment posted by NoHope NoChance, at 11:09 13 Sep 2012

    I was and still am profoundly affected by Marco's death - a wealth of talent and not a robot like some.

    Ciao #58

  • Comment posted by cyberryan87, at 10:49 13 Sep 2012

    @11

    This is a short-sighted comment. Talent isn't defined by the series you ride in, i'm pretty sure that was the jist of what he was saying. I doubt anybody would argue that the likes of Biaggi,Melandri and Checa weren't talented enough to ride MotoGp.Rea has to prove he is talented enough too but I fully expect him to.

    Opinion on Simoncelli was split, but we all wish he was still here. RIP

  • Comment posted by U14085018, at 10:32 13 Sep 2012

    I miss Marco like F1 missed Senna.

    Heres for a good and safe weekend for Crutchlow

    RIP Simoncelli

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