Marco Simoncelli: 1987-2011
Marco Simoncelli died of injuries sustained in accident on the second lap of the 2011 Malaysian MotoGP race on Sunday. AUTOSPORT remembers a brilliant talent who had still to show his full potential on the biggest stage
At a time when MotoGP had risked becoming stagnant amid the domination of a small group of riders and manufacturer teams, the emergence of Marco Simoncelli as a spectacular outsider capable of upsetting the established order at the front of the field was one of the most exciting stories of the 2011 season.
With his outlandish hair and gangly build, Simoncelli stood out from the moment he arrived in MotoGP - but soon became as well known for his speed as for his appearance. The combination of his character and underdog outsider status as a satellite team rider with Gresini and his assertive racing style made him a fan favourite, even though some of his on-track moves attracted censure from his rivals.
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