ain't love grand.

Marco Simoncelli 1987-2011

There aren’t really adequate words that can describe the way that I feel right now, nor are there adequate words to describe just how much Marco was loved by everyone in the MotoGP family. But I will endeavour to put my feelings in to words as best I can.

Marco, you will be greatly missed, not just by me but by every person who calls themself a MotoGP fan. Without you, this championship would not have been what it was this year. You brought back the excitement we needed in this championship, with a real give ‘em hell attitude and an uncompromising will to be the best you could and take no prisoners along the way. You may never have had the opportunity to win a MotoGP race, but I know that one day you would have been a MotoGP World Champion. I still can’t believe that you’re not going to walk out of the medical centre with that huge grin on your face and get back on the bike. It feels unreal that we’ll never have the pleasure of seeing you race again.

My condolences go out to all of Marco’s family and friends, everyone that knew him or had the pleasure of meeting him and to all his fans who will miss him beyond measure.

Finally, thank you Marco. Thank you for just being you.

Rest in Peace.

Pray for Marco Simoncelli.

realracing:

Come on Sic, you can make it.

Please be okay.

(via monique99)

Now that I have calmed my anger, let’s talk about Marco Simoncelli.

I think the decision made my Race Direction today was unfair. Marco had already passed Dani, albeit a very late pass, and Dani rode in to the back of him. While, yes, Marco’s bold move left Dani nowhere else to go, I still don’t believe it was 100% Marco’s fault. There is no way Dani couldn’t have known Marco was there, they were side by side coming down the straight and a guy like Simoncelli is kinda difficult to miss. On the other hand, as Colin Edwards put it, at this level you don’t just chop someone’s front end off like that.

However, I find it laughable that Jorge Lorenzo was one of the group of riders making complaints about Simoncelli’s aggressive riding style. Did anyone happen to see his pass on Dovizioso today? If that wasn’t aggressive then I don’t know what is. I love Jorge, but if you’re going to complain about something don’t then go and do exactly the same thing a few hours later. It kinda negates your argument.

I’m more outraged by the penalty than the ‘crime’. A time penalty would have been more fair. Set him back however many seconds until the data has been reviewed post-race. It could be that RD look at the data and find out it was actually Dani running in to the corner too hot, but by then it’s too late. That’s the thing with a ride-through penalty, it can’t be taken back. At least if they had given him a time penalty, they could have revoked it had the evidence pointed otherwise.

Still, it’s a huge shame that Dani has fractured his collarbone. It’s going to damage what could have been a great season for him. But let’s not discount him just yet, Dani may bruise easily but he’s a tough little guy and I have no doubts he’ll come back all guns blazing.