David Hurst – expert PHP/MySQL developer

This has been a MotoGP Sunday like no other as the world of motorsport comes to terms with the shocking news that Marco Simoncelli has died.

Marco was, without any shadow of doubt, one of the most talented riders on the MotoGP grid. Already a 250CC World Champion, it is unquestionable that he would have taken a top class MotoGP world title within the next few years, and probably more than one. In many races this year, Marco Simoncelli was by far and away the fastest rider on the grid, though he was clearly still learning his race craft. He was developing as a rider all year, scoring pole positions and podiums, and securing his first 2nd place finish just last week at Phillip Island.

Words cannot express the bitter and deep sadness that I feel for the loss of Marco, yet I didn’t personally know him. I’m just one of the millions he entertained week in week out with his exuberant and flamboyant style both on and off his bike.

That Simoncelli should be dead at all is nothing more than a case of appalling bad luck. He’s had numerous crashes throughout his career without suffering serious injury. As is almost always the case with motorcycle accidents, whether on the race track or the road, it’s not coming off the bike that’s the problem, it’s what hits you after you do. At Sepang, Marco lost control of his machine at turn 11 and tried to correct the problem with his knee and elbow. Had he ditched the bike, it and he would have slid harmlessly into the runoff area. Instead, with Marco hanging off the side of the bike as the corner exited, the motorcycle veered back across the track into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.

Neither Colin nor Valentino could have avoided the accident. Edwards’ bike collided with Simoncelli, hitting both rider and machine, and flipping Colin over the top. In the process, Edwards nudged Rossi, who veered to the side colliding with poor Marco Simoncelli’s head, removing his helmet in the process. Rossi managed to stay on his bike, but Colin Edwards suffered a heavy fall and a dislocated shoulder.

After losing his helmet, Marco doesn’t appear to hit his head again, but the force required to remove the helmet and it’s strap alone must have been considerable. The trauma he suffered to his head, neck and chest was too much, and despite the best efforts of the medical team who continued CPR for 45 minutes, Marco succumbed to his injuries.

It was a freak accident, but one that has caused Marco Simoncelli to pay the ultimate price, and it’s a price that he didn’t deserve to pay. The world has lost a great guy and the sport has lost a future legend – a rider that could have genuinely been as good as the great Valentino Rossi. And, one wonders whether we could be deprived of seeing Valentino on the grid himself? Rossi and Simoncelli were good friends, and I imagine Valentino is going through hell over this. It wasn’t his fault, but that won’t make it any easier to deal with.

Marco Simoncelli was a pleasure to watch. He made MotoGP exciting. In a season that has turned out to be almost entirely predictable, Simoncelli was the wild card, the joker in the pack, the guy capable of doing something amazing. He deserved his chance to shine at the top of the world and I for one am crushed and devastated that he won’t get that opportunity.

R.I.P. Marco Simoncelli – you will be sorely missed.