MotoGP, Paolo Simoncelli: “The whole world was with us to remember Marco”

The Emilia-Romagna race weekend was a very emotional one, from Fabio Quartararo’s world title win to Valentino Rossi’s final Italian race, and the lap of honour in memory of Fausto Gresini.

A number of events that took place over a weekend in which the championship also stopped to mark the tenth anniversary of Marco Simoncelli’s passing. A commemoration that came to a head on Saturday 23 October, exactly ten years after the incident at Sepang, when an oak tree was planted at the Quercia turn in memory of Marco.

A touching weekend

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“This weekend brought some special moments – the ceremony during which we planted ‘Sic’s oak’ was very intimate”, comments Simoncelli, "It was incredible how, on what was a gloomy day, a ray of light shone through, making for a magical rainbow. It was beautiful”.

And that wasn’t the only commemorative event: “At dusk in Coriano, the 58 second flame departed from the monument that Lino Dainese gifted us. I appreciated the respectful, almost surreal silence. It was a very touching moment, very moving for me and his mum”.

Moments that attracted the attention of fans around the world, proof of the affection fans still have for SuperSic. “My whole team took part and I thank them for being there, just as I thank the whole world, simply for being there. I say the whole world, yes, because I heard French, Spanish, German people… I know that those who couldn’t be there marked the anniversary by watching the news or on social media and even if I don’t know you, I simply say thank-you” concludes Paolo.

Translated by Heather Watson

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