Marco Simoncelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marco Simoncelli
Marco Simoncelli in 2009.
Nationality	Italian
Born	(1987-01-20)20 January 1987 Cattolica, Italy
Died	23 October 2011(2011-10-23) (aged 24) Sepang, Malaysia
Bike number	58 (retired in honour)
Website	58marcosimoncelli.it marcosimoncellifondazione.it
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2010–2011 Manufacturers Honda Championships 0 2011 championship position 6th (139 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 34 0 2 2 0 264 250cc World Championship Active years 2006–2009 Manufacturers Gilera Championships 1 (2008) 2009 championship position 3rd (231 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 64 12 22 10 8 701 125cc World Championship Active years 2002–2005 Manufacturers Aprilia Championships 0 2005 championship position 5th (177 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 50 2 7 3 1 290 Superbike World Championship Active years 2009 Manufacturers Aprilia Championships 0 2009 championship position 25th (16 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 2 0 1 0 0 16

Marco Simoncelli (born January 20, 1987 – died October 23, 2011), known as Sic, was a professional motorcycle racer from Italy. He competed in the MotoGP World Championship for ten years, from 2002 to 2011. He started in the 125cc class and later moved to the 250cc class in 2006. In 2008, he won the 250cc World Championship with Gilera. After four years, he moved up to the top MotoGP class in 2010, riding for the Honda Gresini Team. Sadly, he passed away in an accident during the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

Marco's Racing Journey

Starting Out in Racing

Marco Simoncelli was born in Cattolica, Italy, but grew up in Coriano. He began racing minibikes when he was just seven years old. By age nine, he was competing in the Italian Minimoto Championship. He won this championship in 1999 and 2000. In 2000, he also came in second place in the European Minimoto Championship. The next year, he won the Italian 125cc Championship in his very first try. In 2002, he won the European 125cc Championship.

Racing in the 125cc Class

After his success in Europe, Simoncelli joined the Grand Prix circuit in August 2002. He rode an Aprilia bike with the number 37. In his first race in Brno, he finished 27th. In the next race, he earned his first championship points by finishing 13th. He ended the season with three points from six races.

He continued racing in the 125cc class in 2003. This is when he started using his famous number 58 on his bike. He earned points in six races, with his best finish being fourth place at Valencia. He finished 21st overall that season.

In 2004, Simoncelli switched to the Rauch Bravo team, still riding an Aprilia. In the second race of the season at Jerez, he got his first pole position. He then won the race, which was held in the rain, after the leader crashed. This was his only win that season, and he finished 11th overall with 79 points.

Simoncelli continued with the same team in 2005. He won the first race at Jerez, making it his second win in a row there. He didn't win any more races that season, but he finished on the podium five other times. This helped him earn 177 points and a fifth-place finish in the championship.

Moving to the 250cc Class

Simoncelli at the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.

In 2006, Simoncelli moved up to the 250cc class. He joined the Metis Gilera team. In his first season, he usually finished between 7th and 10th place. His best result was 6th place in China. He finished 10th overall.

He stayed with the same team in 2007. His season was similar to the previous one, and he finished 10th again, without reaching the podium.

In 2008, he got his first 250cc win at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. He then won again at the Catalan Grand Prix. Simoncelli earned his third 250cc win at the German Grand Prix. He also won in Australia, beating another rider very closely.

Simoncelli at the 2009 British Grand Prix at Donington Park.

On October 19, 2008, he won the 2008 250cc World Championship after finishing 3rd in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

Trying Superbike Racing

In 2009, Simoncelli made a special appearance for Aprilia in the World Superbike race at Imola. He started from the second row and finished third in the second race, even passing his teammate to get on the podium.

On June 25, 2009, it was announced that Simoncelli would move up to the top class, MotoGP, for the 2010 season. He agreed to ride for the San Carlo Gresini Honda team.

MotoGP World Championship Races

2010 Season

Simoncelli at the 2010 United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Simoncelli had a slow start to the 2010 season. He had two crashes during practice before the season began. But he improved throughout the year, finishing in the points in 16 of the 18 races. He ended up in eighth place in the championship with 125 points. His best finish was fourth place in Portugal, just missing a podium spot.

2011 Season

Simoncelli at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

In the 2011 season, Simoncelli was given a factory Honda bike as part of the Gresini team. Many people thought he would be a big surprise this season.

He finished fifth in the first race in Qatar. He later fell from the lead in a wet race at Jerez. He then got his highest starting position of second, but fell on the first lap of the Estoril race.

During the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, Simoncelli had a collision with Dani Pedrosa. Pedrosa broke his collarbone, and Simoncelli received a penalty, finishing fifth. Simoncelli later accepted that he needed to think about his riding style.

Simoncelli got his first MotoGP pole position at Catalonia. However, a bad start made him drop to seventh, and he finished sixth. Simoncelli earned his first podium in the top class, finishing third in the Czech Republic. His best MotoGP finish was second place in the Australian Grand Prix.

A Sad Day

Simoncelli on the grid at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix, his final race.

On October 23, 2011, Marco Simoncelli was involved in a collision with fellow riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi during the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. This happened on the second lap. Simoncelli's bike lost control and then suddenly veered back onto the track, into the path of Edwards and Rossi.

The race was immediately stopped. Simoncelli was seriously injured and taken to the medical center. Less than an hour later, it was announced that he had passed away from his injuries. Doctors said he had very serious injuries to his head, neck, and chest.

His body was flown back to Italy. An estimated 20,000 people attended his funeral in Coriano.

Marco's Lasting Impact

Marco Simoncelli left a big mark on the racing world. His close friend, Valentino Rossi, was deeply affected by his loss. This led Rossi to create the VR46 racing Academy. This academy helps young Italian riders develop their skills. Famous MotoGP riders like Pecco Bagnaia and Franco Morbidelli are graduates of this academy. Rossi has said that Marco was like the first rider of the Academy, even before it officially started.

On November 3, 2011, the Misano World Circuit announced it would rename itself in honor of Simoncelli. At the last Grand Prix of the 2011 season in Valencia, Spain, a special tribute lap was held for Marco. Riders from all classes took part, along with former champion Kevin Schwantz, who rode Simoncelli's bike.

Other sports also paid tribute. In Formula One, Jenson Button dedicated his race performance to Simoncelli. A minute of silence was held at the Grand Prix. Ferrari drivers also paid tribute at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. All Serie A football matches in Italy held a minute of silence for Simoncelli.

On January 20, 2012, Marco's birthday, his hometown of Coriano renamed its sports area "Palazzetto dello Sport Marco Simoncelli." One of the town's bus routes was also re-numbered 58 in his honor.

In 2013, Marco's father, Paolo Simoncelli, started Sic58 Squadra Corse. This team helps young Italian riders in the lower levels of Grand Prix racing. The team now competes in the Moto3 World Championship.

On September 12, 2013, a monument called "Every Sunday" was unveiled in Coriano. Every Sunday at nightfall, a flame burns for 58 seconds in Marco's memory.

On February 3, 2014, it was announced that Simoncelli would be added to the MotoGP Hall of Fame. He became the 21st MotoGP Legend.

On September 8, 2016, it was announced that Simoncelli's racing number 58 would be retired from all Grand Prix racing classes. This means no other rider will use that number, unless Marco's family decides otherwise.

Career Statistics

Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing

By Season

Races by Year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Superbike World Championship

Races by Year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

See also

In Spanish: Marco Simoncelli para niños