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Pit crew members for Vitor Meira, of Brazil, scramble to douse flames during a pit stop in the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2009. AP Photo/Chris Howell
The death of Marco Simoncelli is a true tragedy for motorsport, and indeed sport in general. What a shame, then, that his memory has been tarnished by the comments of a vocal minority.
Simoncelli was a hero of mine.
With his big grin and huge afro, he looked more suited to life as a clown than a racer. With his 6 foot frame an aerodynamic nightmare, ‘Super Sic’ rose to the top of his sport, becoming the 250cc world champion in 2008.
He muscled his machinery to unlikely race wins and podiums, all with a ton of natural talent, and a huge goofy smile on his face. He loved racing, and i loved him for it.
There are many who are more qualified to write a tribute than myself. I met him a handful of times, each year at Phillip Island since I began in motorsport in 2005. He was the only rider to take the time to ask and remember my name, and when you consider the amount of journalists he must encounter daily, thats no mean feat, and appreciated.
When a star of his calibre greets you with a wave and a ‘Ciao, Will’, well, i’ll admit i’m not above getting a thrill out of that. His effect on MotoGP fans in general can be seen in a moving tribute on this very website, here.
With Marco’s funeral still to take place, a few of my colleagues in the media have already taken it upon themselves to use this tragic occurrence to once again mount their soapboxes and decry racing with all the fervor of the ignorant.
An article in a major Melbourne newspaper this week claimed that motor racing “thrives on crashes.”
In fact, the article in question went on to say motorsport fans watch racing solely for the possibility of accidents, that “without crashes, racing would just be cars going around an oval in a chess match. Interesting perhaps, but not thrilling enough to get people to watch.”
What a disgusting comment.
One that cheapens the death of a true sporting champion a mere 72 hours after his death.
There is no doubt racing is a dangerous undertaking. Nobody could argue that. But those who suggest that motorsport is as popular as it is because the world wants to see death and carnage certainly haven’t spoken to any of the fans. The truth is, we love that “chess match”.
The tactics, the mechanical changes, the efforts of a team working around the clock, the flying lap at the end of Q3 with barely any rubber, the heated pit bay exchanges, the weather, the intense close proximity battles.
It’s what makes motor sport great. Crashes are a horrible side effect of all this, and an accepted risk for anyone willing to chase their dream of success on the worlds circuits and ovals.
If you think the risk is too high, consider this: there have been 14 deaths in MotoGP in the past 30 years. A terribly high number, sure. 14 too many. Compare that though to other sports.
What could be higher? Luge? Maybe. Skydiving? Probably. One day event horseriding? Yes – 37, and that’s just between 1997 and 2008.
Like any sport, fans of bike racing admire the skill, fearlessness, focus and determination of the best in the world. 50,000 make the trip to Phillip Island every year to watch those on the MotoGP machines and leave dreaming of emulating Casey Stoner or Valentino Rossi.
The vast majority that make the trip do so on their own bikes, and brave the danger of riding because its an uncommon thrill to ride a motorbike, no matter whether its at 230kmh around turn 12 or 40kmh in a school zone.
We all follow motorsport because we love the racing – the speed, the skill, and yes – the danger.
Those who race have the guts and drive to do what we cannot, and thats what makes them the best, gets them paid, and makes them heroes to millions. Simoncelli himself was once asked whether he feared dying in an accident.
“No,” he responded, “You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike like that, than other people do in all of their life.”
Marco Simoncelli lived to race, and we loved to watch him.
He chose to make the chess board of MotoGP his place of work, and we are all grateful for the spectacle he provided while he lived out his dream. And no, we aren’t “getting off on the carnage.”
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