MotoGP Editorial: The Simoncelli Effect

Michael Scott | June 10, 2014

Am I the only one thinking that Marco Simoncelli remembrance ceremonies are getting a bit mawkish?

I’m not suggesting anyone should forget the lovable (and, admit it, rather scary) legend-in-the-making, who died in Malaysia in 2011, almost three years ago.

How can we forget? He embodied so much that was good about racing… a leonine personality to match his roaring laugh and giant mane. He raced like a demon, and won a World Championship, in trademark courageous style. He will be sadly missed and always remembered by his generation in racing.

Perhaps I am way out of line on this, but I wonder if it isn’t time he and his family were left in peace.

Maybe these repeated and orchestrated public displays are a Latin thing that a northerner like me is too cold-blooded to understand. Perhaps his family draw strength from how assiduously his memory is kept alive, over and over. If so, good.

But it was somehow sad rather than uplifting to see his father and mother brought out once again into the public eye at Mugello, for his formal induction into the MotoGP Hall of Fame. Followed by another tribute lap on his San Carlo Honda (this time by Loris Capirossi), and any number of logos, hash-tags, etc. worn by riders, bikes and transporters.

Simoncelli is the 21st official MotoGP Legend, joining such great multi-time champions as Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Mick Doohan and Giacomo Agostini. And Daijiro Kato.

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