Written by Owen Bradley, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Super Sic, the young Italian rider who made absolute shockwaves during his short stint in MotoGP, passed away 13 years ago, at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
Marco Simoncelli will always be remembered as a legend of MotoGP, and someone who could very well have gone on to potentially win championships, had misfortune not come to him, especially since the Italian had won the 250cc (Moto2) World Championship back in 2008. Towards the end of his MotoGP career, he was getting ever closer to the frontrunners of Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Dani Pedrosa.
In fact, he would have given another young upcoming rider, Marc Marquez - a very good battle for a number of championships. Just imagine that, Rossi vs Lorenzo vs Simoncelli vs Marquez for the 2015/16 seasons.
Rossi and Marco were close friends, and the pair even began training together whilst Simoncelli was still in Moto2/250cc, eventually taking championship victory in the 2008 Moto2/250cc season.
Rossi has previously claimed that Marco Simoncelli was, in fact, the first ever rider in the VR46 Academy. This is the same academy which has produced the 2022 Championship leader, and likely champion, Francesco Bagnaia.
Simoncelli’s passing clearly had a huge effect on Valentino Rossi, as Rossi has recently said that Simoncelli was part of the reason behind setting up the VR46 academy, and the academy helped Valentino through a tough period of time in his life as well, losing his best friend.
Whilst Simoncelli was an absolute legend in MotoGP, a lesser known fact about "Super Sic" is that he actually raced in the 2009 World Superbike Championship Imola round - and got a podium! World Superbikes itself, is and was a category for veteran MotoGP riders, and Superbike riders as well, so to score a podium on his debut - it is without a doubt, Marco Simoncelli would have been a World Champion in whichever category of motorcycle racing he joined.
It is still very difficult to believe that it has been 13 years since we lost Marco Simoncelli, but his legacy is one which is absolutely beautiful, having the Misano Circuit named partly after him, having a team named after him in MotoE and Moto3 - and of course, the legacy within all of his family and friends. His legacy spreads through the town of his birth, Coriano, with the town’s sports arena being renamed as “Pallazetto Sport Dello Marco Simoncelli”, and even a bus route being re-numbered “58” in honour of the Italian rider.
The MotoGP paddock greatly misses Marco, his raw riding talent, his incredible charisma, and of course - his incredible hairstyle.
Continue to Rest in Peace, Marco Simoncelli - We Love You.
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https://youtu.be/fLdJfZBUDK4
Great memories !!
Timely piece and Marco is very well remembered here - fearless and fast, quite the man in terms of talent, bravery and stature. One of the best ways to remember Marco off the bike is the 'I will be arrest' press conference where Lorenzo is blasting Marco's forceful riding. I will watch it in a moment but from memory even Jorge grins about it !! Marco too looks very pleased with his own humour 🤣.
Such a loss to racing, could have been an alien like the others for years.