Moto GP - hardest hour of television viewing

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #1 23-10-2011, 08:11 PM

Marco Simoncelli died in front of us on TV this afternoon after crashing on the second lap of the Malaysian MotoGP. That was singly the most gut wrenching hour of TV I've ever watched. What a terrible week in motor sport.

RIP Marco.

h0ughy (David) · #2 23-10-2011, 08:54 PM

was watching the rugby and would have been watching the race later on Ten - that is sad new indeed

marki · #3 23-10-2011, 09:20 PM

Was watching Chris, really sad. The guy had bucket loads of raw talent and was a real personallity to.

RIP Marco

scagman (John) · #4 23-10-2011, 10:10 PM

Yes it is a great shame. It was a long hour indeed.
He will be missed in the paddock.
It must be hard on Edwards and Rossi after such an accident. Neither had anywhere to go.

R.I.P.

sheeny (Al) · #5 23-10-2011, 10:23 PM

Yes. Very sad. Its a great shame. He had such potential.

It was very strange television coverage - certainly not entertaining, but like the response in pit lane, you couldn't leave it. I certainly don't mean that in a voyeuristic way... it was just hope... extraordinary in terms of TV.

My thoughts are with his family and girlfriend and all the people involved with the MotoGP circus, especially Colin Edwards and Valentino.

It is better to live one year as a lion than 50 years as a lamb.

Al.

desler · #6 24-10-2011, 04:09 AM

RIP Marco, gripping television for sure, but such a shame for the world to loose such a talented 24 year old.

My thought's are with his family and friends.

Darren

Ric · #7 24-10-2011, 10:48 AM

A tragic event you never want to see.

I remember watching Marco as he rose to World champion in 250cc GP class. This season was his best by far with several podiums.

A sad loss of a potential world champion

RIP Marco Simoncelli

Marco Simoncelli

Date of birth: January 20 1987
Place of birth: Cattolica, Italy
Nationality: Italian

Teams
MotoGP: Honda (2010-2011)
250cc: Gilera (2006-2009)
125cc: Aprilia (2002-2005)
Career
Races contested: 148
Wins: 14 (12 in 250cc, 2 in 125cc)
Podiums: 31 (2 in MotoGP, 22 on 250cc, 7 in 125cc)
Pole positions: 15 (2 in MotoGP, 10 in 250cc, 3 in 125cc)
Best MotoGP result:: 2nd in Australia, 2011
Last win: Australia, 2009 - 250cc
Last pole position: Dutch GP, 2011
250cc world champion - 2008
First GP: Czech Republic 2002
First pole position: Spain 2004
First fastest lap: Qatar 2005
First podium: Spain 2004
First win: Spain 2004

multiweb (Marc) · #8 24-10-2011, 06:06 PM

Very unlucky on that fall. Still not very clear how he initially lost control of the bike to the point of cutting across the other bikes lanes. Hopefully the inquiry in the accident will shed some light on all this incident. Very sad day for motorsport. Way to young.

Deeno · #9 24-10-2011, 06:08 PM

What a terrible reminder of how dangerous a sport it is.

The paddock will be greatly deminished without his personality and flair.

We have been denied an opportunity to witness what could have been....?

Rest In Peace

AndyK (Andy) · #10 24-10-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

... Still not very clear how he initially lost control of the bike to the point of cutting across the other bikes lanes ...

I couldn't work that out either. The bike dropped (low-sided) in a right-hand turn and it should have simply gone straight ahead, sliding off to the left side of the track. I've subsequently read a report which said that the front tyre then regained grip, swerving the bike hard to the right and straight into the path of Edwards and Rossi.

The report can be found HERE

multiweb (Marc) · #11 24-10-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyK

I couldn't work that out either. The bike dropped (low-sided) in a right-hand turn and it should have simply gone straight ahead, sliding off to the left side of the track. I've subsequently read a report which said that the front tyre then regained grip, swerving the bike hard to the right and straight into the path of Edwards and Rossi.

The report can be found HERE

The weird angle he came in from the side makes sense now. When he cut into Edwards and Rossi's lanes his bike was almost straight but he was hanging on its side with his shoulders already on the ground facing the incoming traffic. Edwards bike slammed him rightdown into the tarmac like a pancake and his helmet popped. Extremely brutal hit. The Italian physio said they tubed him up straight away to empty the blood in his abdomen and gave him CPR for 45min but his head, neck and torso trauma were so important there's nothing they could do.

It is really very unlucky. These guys know how to fall and 99% of the time slide and walk out of it. This one was really freaky.

Stardrifter_WA · #12 24-10-2011, 06:53 PM

Andy, that is the nature of motorcycles, they can be unpredictable at times and unfortunately when that happens, it sucks!

I rode for 28 years and I got it wrong and it took nearly 10 years to recovery from it. Watching Simoncelli go down was gut retching and sent a deep chill through me, for I know how that feels. It is a sad day indeed when we lose talented riders. Unfortunately, although infrequently, it will probably happen again. It is a very dangerous sport.

sheeny (Al) · #13 24-10-2011, 06:54 PM

There was another video from Bautista's bike. It shows the black line from S's front tire appear when its gone, and you see him try to catch it with both his knee and elbow. He did a marvellous job and actually succeeded but in the process his left foot came off the peg, which made it impossible to get back up without pulling down on the bars. In hind sight, that would've been a safer thing to do, but I bet it was all too quick for rational thought.

So sad.

Al.

AndyK (Andy) · #14 24-10-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

... Andy, that is the nature of motorcycles, they can be unpredictable at times and unfortunately when that happens, it sucks! ...

Very sad outcome.
Still can't really believe it.
My daughter was in tears ... I've been a rider for almost 45 years and we're MotoGP fans here.
Fortunately I've managed to stay safe.

We always called Marco "Sideshow Bob" because of his resemblance to the Simpsons character.

We're going to miss him.

Stardrifter_WA · #15 24-10-2011, 07:06 PM

It certainly happens quickly, you have no time to think. I didn't even get the oh! out let alone the f... or s... or whatever I would have said. On a racing track, it happens even faster

I found myself laying on the road thinking, this is going to hurt.....funny thought that! Next thought was for my bike...I sure did love that bike. I won't tell you the next thought as I suddenly had the realisation of how much trouble I was in..... To watch it happen to someone else makes it that much harder to watch. I will admit to a tear moment.

kustard (Simon) · #16 24-10-2011, 07:34 PM

Anyone who rides a bike, myself included, cannot but feel for his family and friends. Such a sad thing.