Marco Simoncelli’s name will always live on in MotoGP, a charismatic and endearing character that battled among a pack of wolves to become alpha. A dream cut awfully short in an unforgiving moment at the Malaysian MotoGP in 2011.
Five years on, we still talk about Marco Simoncelli. Why? Because he was special. In 2017, we welcome a pinch of Marco back onto the Grand Prix tracks with the addition of Sic58 Squadra Corse for this year’s Moto3 season. A squad created, nurtured, and supervised by the late athlete’s father, Paolo Simoncelli.
At just seven years of age, Marco, who wore his curls slightly shorter then began racing in minibikes. His competitive spirit was innate from childhood and he moved along the ranks at speed, winning the Italian Minimoto by age 12. His stellar career would shift into gear by 2002, as he entered the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world stage in the 125cc class. And all, with his father by his side.
Travelling the circuit together from childhood to adulthood. They suffered through the pain of losses and injuries together, the triumphant of victories and perseverance, and the euphoria of winning a 250cc World Championship in 2008.
When the sport lost Marco in 2011, Paolo not only lost his son but his best friend. Following Marco’s death, Paolo describes how it was incredibly difficult to return to the race paddocks. But he had to do it to survive; he has to do it to survive. Father and son, they had spent their lives together there.
In 2013, Paolo started his own racing squad, honouring the memory and passion Marco had for motorbike racing, while also providing a platform for young talents to race.
"I feel that I am doing the right thing, and I hope I am doing something that will make Marco proud of me. I don't know if we would have started a team after Marco’s retirement but I think he would approve,” Paolo says with a warm smile.
Paolo now lives again through racing, take away the hurt and anger. And this sport has blossomed some of the happiest memories that the Simoncelli family have of their son.
At the squad’s official unveiling held earlier this year at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Paolo expressed the importance of giving young kids an opportunity to follow their dreams.
“We started with youngsters because I believe that developing young talent is the greatest thing, and we will in fact continue to compete in the CEV and the CIV. I always tried to instil in Marco the strength of believing in one's goals and that's what we'll try to do now with the squad's riders.”
He also doesn’t take full credit for creating the squad. Thanking Italian designer, Aldo Drudi, the man responsible for Valentino Rossi’s whimsical helmet designs, for nudging him in the right direction.
“Much of the credit for the birth of this project goes to Aldo Drudi, who pushed me and helped me create a team,” Paolo said at the presentation.
Under the watchful eye of Papa` Simoncelli, riders Tony Arbolino and Tatsuki Suzuki bring the Simoncelli name back to the world stage of motorcycle racing in 2017. Sic58 enters their debut year in Moto3 on the Honda NSF250RW, and show promise with their impressive list of team members.
Early on in the development of Sic58, Paolo would stay tight lipped about his hopes for the team. But Paolo’s foresight was always to enter the Moto3 World Championship: “No one knew, but for some time it had been one of my objectives.”
This will be Arbolino and Suzuki’s first season together as teammates, which will prove interesting.
Italian rider, Arbolino has been a part of the Sic58 project since 2014. One of the team’s shining gems, Arbolino won the Premoto3 Italian Championship in 2014. Moving up to the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2015, with a ninth place finish for the 2016 season.
19-year-old Japanese, Suzuki brings a little more experience to the table having raced in Moto3 since 2015 on the Mahindra. The youngster placed 28th and 27th respectively, but craved a new machine for the upcoming season. His eyes set on one bike only – the Honda.
Paolo describes how Suzuki joined the team because, “Initially he wanted a Honda at all costs! He liked my offer, and then we liked him.”
At first, the pairing of Arbolino and Suzuki seems unusual. Arbolino, who has been with the team since he was 13, has developed under the Sic58 umbrella. He has been mentored and guided by a unit of people that understand the sport inside out, a squad that work more like a family than a business. A squad, just like Marco Simoncelli’s was.
So why invite Suzuki into the famiglia? Why not bring another Sic58 rider to the big league with Arbolino? Two reasons.
Arbolino is the team’s strongest rider, the only rider developed enough and ready to take on the task of Moto3. Suzuki is a breath of fresh air, not only does he passionately want to ride the Honda, but he brings insider knowledge to a new squad. He understands the dynamics of Moto3, the other riders and the tracks.
What becomes very clear about this squad is the importance of unity and communication among the riders. It’s not about which rider accumulates the most points, or secures the better finish. Rather it’s the collective progress, growth and sportsmanship among the riders and crew members that is essential to Sic58. This becomes apparent through the appointment of one crew chief, Marco Grana, for both riders. Paolo spoke about the reasoning behind this decision at the official presentation:
“We made this decision to avoid any conflict that might arise with two crew chiefs. Of course each rider will have its own work group, led by a manager but I think having just one crew chief will bring harmony.”
The relationship between the boys is exactly how you would imagine among a new pairing, all seems well. Paolo is pleased with their progress so far, and says their communication in English shows promise.
“They’re getting to know one another. Everything seems to be going well, maybe because it’s just the beginning…” Paolo says with a raised eyebrow and chuckle.
Without knowing it, Paolo appears to be in his element working with these boys. It might just be that he was born to do this. It can be hard to deal with teenagers at the best of times, but in such a serious business it’s easy to understand the intense emotions that the task can evoke. In the past, Paolo has described that he approaches his riders with the same method that he used on his son - bad cop, good cop. He pulls out the serious frown with his riders when necessary, but at times, he cannot help morphing into good cop to lend a fatherly hug.
Sic’s iconic red and white colour scheme has been adopted by the team. His captivating smile and untameable fro will reappear on the trucks and inside the paddock garage for the first time in five years. Reminding us that Marco’s racing spirit continues to live on in MotoGP.
When I asked Paolo if any of the current MotoGP riders had reached out to the squad, Paolo says that as of yet, no one has. But he is sure they share the same happiness as he does to see Marco’s name and face back in the circuit again.
“After the death of Marco, the riders were always very kind. I’m sure it would also make them happy to learn about our entry in Moto3.”
Valentino Rossi and Marco Simoncelli. What can you say about the two, their relationship resembled that of brothers. More often than not, they were either pictured in embraced laughter or gunning it on the track, wheel to wheel, and always with a charming spirit. Both having that on-screen spark that cannot be taught, a dash of spunk and energy that comes from the heart not the calculated mind.
Although now direct competitors to Rossi’s Moto3 team, Sky Racing by VR46, I was intrigued to learn whether Arbolino and Suzuki have been invited to Rossi’s Ranch in Tavullia, Italy. Famous for inviting his MotoGP competitors to race at the Ranch, the dirt track is an opportunity for riders to improve their skills in controlling the bike. And is where Rossi trains with his Sky Racing riders. Paolo says that neither of the two have visited the Ranch but he imagines Rossi has seen his boys race. Game on, boys.
Although it is only their debut in Moto3, that doesn’t stop Sic58 from aiming the barrel on target. Paolo has high hopes for the squad, but reiterates the importance for his riders to have fun throughout the journey, saying their goals for the year are “to be leaders.”
“Tatsuki we definitely see in the top 10. While with Tony, from mid-season onward, you will see us enjoy ourselves on the tracks he is familiar with.”
Marco had one gear - fast. He always dodged through the crowd of bikes ahead like a famished child sprinting for bread. It didn’t matter whether he fell along the way, whether he bruised a knee or cut an elbow, because fast was where he yearned to be. Captured in a moment, fixed in the ecstasy that most humans will never endure, somewhere between 150 km/h to 320km/h on a monster beast. That’s where Marco was born to be, and if Marco were to give any advice to Sic58’s riders, Paolo says it would be four little word: “No stories, just gas.”
A fresh and exciting addition to Moto3, we eagerly await the debut of Sic58 Squadra Corse at Round 1 of the World Championship in Qatar.
I leave you with the words Marco’s former Manager, Carlo Pernat, used at the official presentation to describe Sic58 Squarda Corse’s fortitude:
“We'll do it above all, for he who's watching us from over.”