Simoncelli's funeral to be held on Thursday in Coriano

The casket of the Italian rider arrived in Italy this Tuesday morning to a crowd of fans that received the flight with sustained applause. The funeral proceedings will be held this Thursday in his hometown of Coriano, Italy.

The body of Marco Simoncelli arrived at Fiumicino airport this Tuesday morning following the tragic accident that took the rising star's young life at the MotoGP race in Sepang last Sunday. Representatives of several sporting organizations—among them Gianni Petrucci, Secretary of the Italian National Olympic Committee and Paolo Sesti, President of the Italian Federation of Motorcycling—awaited the arrival of the casket, along with a crowd of fans who gathered in Rome airport facilities to greet the arrival with prolonged applause.

The late rider’s father, Paolo, and Marco Simoncelli's long time friend and compatriot, Valentino Rossi, traveled together on the same Alitalia flight from Kuala Lumpur with the fallen rider’s casket.

A public viewing of Simoncelli's body is planned for Wednesday in the city theatre of his hometown, Coriano, with the funeral scheduled for Thursday, October 27 at 3:00pm in the church of Santa Maria di Coriano. The Italian will be buried in the cemetery of this town, near Riccione, where he was born 24 years ago.

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Aoyama expresses thoughts on loss of Marco Simoncelli

Hiroshi Aoyama published a sentiment in his blog on Monday over the loss of his team-mate Marco Simoncelli.

“My team mate Marco crashed during the race yesterday. He was fighting hard for his life but unfortunately he passed away. I can not think of any words to describe this tragic loss.”

“He has been my rival since the 250cc’s and since we both started in MotoGP class, I could feel the tension in between us and we were always aware of each other as rookies. And now, we have been competing in the same championship as a team mate. He is such an openhearted person, no matter where he is. I know everyone had a high expectation of him since he has been performing so well. He is loved by so many people and I know why. Last week he came second and was on the podium. And this week again he was so powerful on his bike.. but why..? How..? That is all I can think right now.”

“I would like to give my condolences to Marco’s family, fans, teams and staff.”

“Rest in peace Marco.”

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Gresini Team to attend Valencia GP

The Italian team will assemble its usual box at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, and will display the bike holding number 58 in tribute to rider Marco Simoncelli. The team has yet to decide if Hiroshi Aoyama and the Moto2 riders will compete in the final GP of the season.

As preparations continue for the funeral of the late rider Marco Simoncelli continue, the San Carlo Honda Gresini team confirmed on Tuesday its intention to attend the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana, where the MotoGP community is planning a tribute in memory of the late Italian rider who died in Malaysia.

Team sources have ensured that the majority of the team’s members will travel to the Valencian circuit and the customary team box will be assembled, in which the Honda RC212V holding the number 58 will be present in tribute to their rider Marco Simoncelli.

Team owner Fausto Gresini has not yet decided if Hiroshi Aoyama and Moto2 riders Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi will take part in the Grand Prix. The team may make an announcement on Wednesday morning or might wait until after the funeral services on Thursday for Marco Simoncelli are held.

In a press release issued Tuesday, the Italian team thanked the countless messages of sympathy received since Sunday with a message that read: "Thanks for the love shown to Marco. The star of "Super Sic" will shine forever in heaven! From Marco’s family and the team, thank you."

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Hundreds turn out to bid Marco Simoncelli farewell

The MotoGP rider’s body was laid out for the public to pay their respects today (Wednesday) in his hometown of Coriano. The 24 year-old’s funeral will be held tomorrow (Thursday, October 27th) at the Santa Maria Assunta church.

Large numbers of people turned out on Wednesday morning in Coriano, the hometown of Marco Simoncelli, to bid the MotoGP rider a final farewell before his funeral takes place on Thursday.

Fans, friends, members of the public and figures from the world of sport came to the Municipal Theatre in Coriano, close to Riccione in the Italian province of Rimini, to pay their respects to the 24 year-old rider who passed away on Sunday following a crash in the MotoGP race in Malaysia.

A long line of mourners formed early this morning at the chapel, which will remain open until 10pm this evening, and where Simoncelli’s body is resting prior to his funeral on Thursday. Behind the Italian rider’s coffin the Gilera bike, on which he won the 2008 250cc World Championship title, and the Honda RC212V, on which he competed in the MotoGP class, were presented.

Amongst those in attendance were recognised Italian sporting figures such as former basketball player Walter Magnifico and Marco Melandri, a close friend of Marco Simoncelli’s and his team-mate in the Gresini team during the young rider’s debut season in MotoGP in 2010.

The funeral, which will take place tomorrow (Thursday) at 3pm at the Santa Maria Assunta church in Coriano, is expected to be attended by close friends of Simoncelli’s and fellow riders including Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and Sete Gibernau. To ensure that all those who attend the funeral can follow the ceremony two large screens will be installed outside the church, and a large screen will also be installed at the Misano circuit nearby.

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A massive and emotional funeral bids a final farewell to Simoncelli

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Marco Simoncelli held at the Santa Maria Assunta church in Coriano on Thursday, October 27th.

A huge gathering of fans, friends, family members and prominent figures from the world of sport attended the funeral services for the MotoGP rider who passed away on Sunday. The funeral was held at 3pm on Thursday at the Santa Maria Assunta church in Coriano, Simoncelli’s hometown, close to Riccione in the Italian province of Rimini.

The casket arrived at the Assunta church carried by friends and members of the Gresini team, and at 3pm the services commenced. Simoncelli’s Gilera bike, on which he won the 2008 250cc World Championship title, and the Honda RC212V, on which he competed in the MotoGP class were displayed on either side of his casket.

The ceremony was broadcast on a large video screen outside of the church, as well as on an additional large screen installed at the nearby Misano circuit, so that the thousands gathered outside the church and at the circuit could witness the ceremony. Prior to the services the screens ran footage of the 24 year-old at his charismatic best in the paddock.

Along side Marco’s father Paolo, mother Rosella, sister Martina and girlfriend Kate, in attendance were current and former fellow riders including Valentino Rossi, Raffaele De Rosa, Chaz Davies, Mattia Pasini, Manuel Poggiali, Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Randy de Puniet, Loris Capirossi and Hiroshi Aoyama and Alex de Angelis. Also present at the services were CEO of Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta, and FIM president Vito Ippolito.

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Marco Simoncelli Is Laid To Rest In Coriano

Diobo’ Quanta Gente!

‘Super Sic’ will have looked down on his funeral today and no doubt said: “Diobò quanta gente!” (“Good lord, that’s a lot of people!”). “Did so many people really want to wish me well?” he would have added.

The demonstration of affection towards ‘Super Sic’, tragically killed last Sunday at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, was from another planet.

Yesterday around ten thousand people came to say goodbye as he laid at rest in the Municipal Theatre in Coriano whilst today the number of people present in the small town and at the Misano circuit, where the events were shown on a big screen, was simply incalculable.

The world of motorcycling flocked to be by his side as he was finally laid to rest. The funeral service was led by the Bishop of Rimini, Francesco Lambiasi, at the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Coriano, where the body of “Super Sic” was carried by his closest friends in the presence of his family, the friends he spent so many happy times with, the team and other dignitaries from the world of motorcycling, World Champions from different disciplines of racing and sport, other personalities and his two most famous motorcycles: the Gilera that he rode to the 250cc World Championship and the Honda he raced this season.

Outside the church, which could only hold 450 people, thousands and thousands more watched on two more big screens, with another in the Coriano town square. The most emotional moment came when the Vasco Rossi song “Siamo solo noi” was played as Marco’s coffin was carried out of the the church of Our Lady of the Assumption to make its final journey. Goodbye “Super Sic”, you will always be in our hearts.

Marco Simoncelli: Career Achievements

By the time he arrived on the Grand Prix scene as a 15 year-old Marco Simoncelli already had a wealth of experience and titles behind him, and his entry into the World Championship arena in 2002 was the start of a career marked by success, ambition, determination, some controversy and plenty of admiration as he progressed through the classes to become one of MotoGP’s most recognisable stars by the time of his tragic death on October 23rd 2011.

Growing up in Coriano, some 10km from the Misano World Circuit, Simoncelli spent his youth racing on the Italian east coast and was a frontrunner in the Italian Minimoto Championship from 1996 to 2000 – a competition he won on more than one occasion.

Stepping onto 125cc machinery after his exploits in minibikes Simoncelli was quick to adapt, riding in the Italian National Championship in 2001 and then taking the European 125cc title the following season. It was in 2002 that he made his World Championship debut, riding six rounds of the 125cc campaign before a first full season the next year.

2004 saw the then 17 year-old take his first GP victory – which was also his first podium result and his first start from pole position – when he won at a rain-soaked Jerez on his way to 11th overall in the standings. Simoncelli’s final season in the category in 2005 produced six podiums in total, including another win at Jerez, as he ended the year fifth overall taking further steps forward.

Moving up to the 250cc category for 2006 it took two seasons for Simoncelli to settle in and find his feet, and when he did so it was in stunning style. 2008 did not start in the most encouraging manner as Simoncelli failed to score points in the opening two rounds, but in Round 3 at Estoril he qualified on pole for the first time in 250s and finished the race in second – his first podium in the class. From there, Simoncelli’s season took off in a phenomenal fashion. He took his first 250cc win in his home GP at Mugello, the sixth round of the campaign, and only finished outside the top three on one more occasion on his way to the title. Winning six races and stepping onto the podium a total of 12 times in 2008, Simoncelli was the first Gilera rider to win the 250cc title and became the first man to take the intermediate crown after not scoring points in the first two rounds since Dieter Braun in 1973.

Speculation linked the charismatic new 250cc World Champion with a move up to the MotoGP class but Simoncelli opted to stay and defend his title. He again displayed his fearless riding style as he engaged in a series of great battles, taking the title fight to the final round in Valencia where he eventually lost out to Hiroshi Aoyama. Simoncelli finished the campaign in third, having won six races, and was by now ready to make the step up to the top level.

Pre-season testing for the 2010 campaign was something of a baptism of fire for Simoncelli, who was shaken by a big crash at the second Sepang Test. He was back on the bike for the final Qatar outing however, and then finished his first MotoGP race at the same Losail circuit one month later in 11th place. Simoncelli gained in confidence as his rookie season went on, steadily improving his qualification and race results and ending 2010 with a strong run of notable displays which included fourth in the penultimate round at Estoril, where he was unlucky to miss out on a podium spot.

With a full season’s experience behind him his second year in MotoGP saw Simoncelli get off to a flying start, as he immediately set about converting the promise shown towards the end of 2010 into results in 2011. After a top-five finish in the first round in Qatar, he then crashed out of the Jerez race when leading in only the second race of the campaign. Next time out Simoncelli secured his first second-row start, in Portugal, and a first premier class pole position came shortly after in Catalunya as the excitement surrounding the daring Italian continued to grow.

Another pole followed at Assen but Simoncelli was unable to seal that elusive podium spot that seemed an almost certainty every time he took to the track, something he finally managed at Brno where he took third position in the Czech GP to great acclaim.

Fantastic rides continued to flow as he finished fourth for three races in a row at Misano, Aragón and Motegi, the last of which saw Simoncelli prevail in a toe-to-toe race-long battle with age-old rival Andrea Dovizioso. Just two weeks later at Phillip Island Simoncelli again held off his compatriot in an epic fight to take second place, his best-ever MotoGP result.

Qualifying on the second row for the Malaysian GP Simoncelli was battling with Álvaro Bautista for fourth position in the race when he crashed on lap two, sustaining the injuries which brought to an untimely end a rapidly evolving rider and individual who was hugely admired both on and off the track.

Marco Simoncelli’s World Championship career:

2002: 125cc World Championship – 33rd position on an Aprilia, 6 starts, 3 points

2003: 125cc World Championship – 21st position on an Aprilia, 15 starts, 31 points

2004: 125cc World Championship – 11th position on an Aprilia, 13 starts, 79 points, 1 win

2005: 125cc World Championship – 5th position on an Aprilia, 16 starts, 177 points, 1 win

2006: 250cc World Championship – 10th position on a Gilera, 16 starts, 92 points

2007: 250cc World Championship – 10th position on a Gilera, 17 starts, 97 points

2008: 250cc World Championship – 1st position on a Gilera, 16 starts, 281 points, 6 wins

2009: 250cc World Championship – 3rd position on a Gilera, 15 starts, 231 points, 6 wins

2010: MotoGP World Championship – 8th position on a Honda, 18 starts, 125 points

2011: MotoGP World Championship – 6th position on a Honda, 16 starts, 139 points

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