RIP Marco Simoncelli

[Ray916MN]

Unfortunately one of the brightest lights in MotoGP has passed. RIP.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/malaysia+sepang+motogp+simoncelli+succumbs+to+injuries

[Elk]

Wow.  Very sad.  Talented and a great character to have around.

I haven't watched the race yet (on DVR, waiting).

[nOOky]

Looks like a horrible crash. RIP.

[vince]

It is so sad he was a very colorful champion. RIP.
His helmet is in one piece. It looks like he may have forgot to strap it on or the strop pulled out which I thought they weren't suppose to do.

[Jared]

RIP.  It was always great seeing him compete.

[GUZZI JOHN]

  We will all miss a fine racer.GJ

[Chris]

He will be missed, he had some talent

[flyinlow]

Translation from the gpone website:
45 minutes of resuscitation desperate to save Marco Simoncelli, scanned by the immobility of the blades of the helicopter standing outside the medical center. The eyes are fixed, a movement of the blades would mean that there is still hope that Mark can do it. All the Italian press, along with other insiders, wait. In the eyes are still images of the terrible accident, Edwards' bike that impacted the body of Sic on the ground. And that of Rossi, who desperately tried to avoid it.

His entire team is crowded around, anxious of news that they are awakening from a bad nightmare, but the mind inevitably goes to the past, the bloody weekend in Suzuka Eight years ago, when he was leaving Daijiro Kato. The looks are low, whispered words with difficulty, with a mixture of respect and fear. Fear that comes, confirmation of what is feared most, that Mark is no longer there.

The whole paddock breathed in unison, while the steps they take are nervous and their hands begin to tremble. Every person who leaves the building turns white where Marco is fighting against death, is being greeted with a mixture of hope and fear. A nod startles, talk about the first of the doctors who are trying to revive him, a desperate attempt. But there is still a possibility and we all cling, the helmet that may have cushioned the blow to his head, however, as happened to others, perhaps there is no reason to worry.

Aldo Gandolfo, his press secretary, shakes his head in disbelief about what happened, unable to come to terms with it. At his side Charles Pernat, the manager of Mark, waiting along with reporters. The notebooks, cameras and microphones want one piece of news that can still do it.

Then all of a sudden that no one would ever wants to hear it is said, Mark is gone, the trauma to the neck was broken in a second of his life. His father Paul comes out of the medical center, his face is frozen and the paddock as it narrows into a hug. 45 minutes have passed since Simoncelli had entered, doctors have attempted the impossible, but this time the miracle was not successful.

Silence fell, broken only by the cries and everybody finds himself alone with his thoughts, his memories, his images of Sic. The official announcement reached the ears like an annoying hissing sound, the time of death, 16:56, gave a cold and useless feeling, you can not change what destiny has decided. The paddock sinks in eerie silence, the noise from the pits of the mechanics who put the bikes in the crates arrive muffled.

The riders are in the office crying for their friend and rival, everyone, without exception, remember Mark with affection and sympathy. The mechanics are trying to stay focused on their work, a way of not thinking about the tragedy, the routine of trying to accept what can not be even thought of. Fausto Gresini remains in his garage with Sic's father, while friends and colleagues tightly wrap them, making them feel the affection and warmth, the only thing possible when words are not needed. Even Andrea Dovizioso arrived, to be close to the team and the family of his greatest opponent.

The evening falls on the Sepang circuit, the eyes are raised towards the sky, looking for a star with the number 58 engraved on it.

[Elk]

I also feels very sorry for Edwards and Rossi.  Ghastly crash.

Good call by the TV feed.  They showed his garage, only once and very briefly in the normal way before realizing the seriousness.  After this there were no shots of his garage, other than of his back-up bike, and no close ups of the members of the other teams.  The coverage also ended 20 minutes early.  Very respectful.

[Jared]

Agreed.  Too bad ESPN isn't handling it with the same level of class.

[vince]

The GP did not re air either they showed the 125 class.

[flyinlow]

Anyone wanting to send a tribute to Marco's family can do it from the motogp website

http://www.motogp.com/en/contact/tributetosimoncelli

[carlson_mn]

Very young dude, very sad.  Shocked about the helmet, saw the crash vid on youtube, very disturbing, sad.  Not sure if it staying on would have prevented death though, being a broken neck. 

[Ray916MN]

Frame by frame replay of the accident shows that Rossi's front wheel hit him at least at shoulder height if not higher. Towards the end of the broadcast, the commentator said Marco had a broken neck. Given that the chin strap detached from the shell, it would not surprise me if Rossi's bike hit Marco's helmet with enough force to tear the helmet off his head and break his neck in the process or hit him and broke his neck and then tore the helmet off. Either way, barring defect, the force necessary to tear a chinstrap from its anchor point is hard to imagine as being survivable in any situation.

I'm sure Rossi and Edwards both feel horrible about the accident and in particular Rossi who counted Simoncelli as a friend must feel awful.

A sad sad day.....

[Elk]

I'm sure Rossi and Edwards both feel horrible about the accident and in particular Rossi who counted Simoncelli as a friend must feel awful.

Yes.  It would be overwhelming.

Immediately afterwards Rossi was all over the track, even aimlessly cutting corners in the grass.