Everyone entered the Valencia paddock this weekend with a heavy heart, a hole in the family. Marco Simoncelli had a big personality, a feisty riding style but most of all he touched everyone in the MotoGP community. Whether you support a particular rider or not MotoGP riders deserve respect, it's dangerous, they push the limits, they risk their lives but as most of the riders said 'we wouldn't live without it'.
If there was one thing Super Sic would have wanted it would be to continue racing and that's exactly what they did.
The Honda Gresini team set up Marco's box with his bike and helmet one last time.
In tribute to Sic, his father Paolo Simoncelli suggested earlier in the week that instead of a minutes silence that there should be a minutes noise of revving engines as that's what Marco would have liked.
After warm up's had finished 125's, Moto2 and the MotoGP bikes took a tribute lap around the circuit all following the 58 bike which good friend and '93 champion Kevin Schwantz was riding.
Kevin Schwatz lining up after the tribute lap.
Following the lap the MotoGP bikes lined up behind Marco Simoncelli's bike along with the 125's and Moto2's staying on their bikes behind. The MotoGP riders all lined up facing the 58 with two minutes of firecrackers being let off.
A beautiful moment for everyone involved and if you missed it you can watch it on motogp.com
125's
In the last ever 125 race it was the only title decider race of the day which was resolved early on when Johann Zarco of France crashed out the race in tricky, drizzly conditions on Lap 3, handing the 125 title over to rival Nico Terol.
Terol took the race fairly easy from there until gaining places with a battle between fellow Spaniards Marverick Vinales and Hector Faubel.
The young rookie Vinales scored his fourth win of his debut season with Terol in second and Faubel in 3rd.
Congratulations Nico Terol!
Moto2
After suffering a high impact crash last time out in Sepang, Marc Marquez was deemed unfit to race after suffering double vision, and unless short of a miracle wasn't going to race.
Inevitably this meant that the Moto2 crown was handed over to Stefan Bradl which he won during qualifying when Marquez was officially unable to put in a fast lap to qualify for the race.
With unpredictable and wet conditions the qualifying was wrapped up in the first 15 minutes or so and Stefan Bradl began celebrating with his team and congratulating Marc Marquez and his team on a great championship battle, although we would have all loved to have seen the last battle.
Qualifying on pole was Michele Pirro and second was Gresini team mate Yuki Takahashi - a fitting tribute for the team in memory of Marco.
The race started under doubtful conditions with patches of rain making a lot of riders crash out, including most of the brits.
Those who went down including freshly crowned champion Stefan Bradl, shorty after Yuki Takahashi also crashed out, a sight nobody wanted to see, he's ok but under observation in Hospital.
Meanwhile at the front Pirro lead his Gresini bike to his first victory, followed by Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (Technomag-CIP)
Not the usual's we see on the podium but a deserved win for Pirro and the team, for Marco.
The Moto2 Gresini bike with "Race You Life" tribute to Marco.
Pirro pointing to Marco in the sky - this one's for you.
The Moto2 new World Champion on the podium with his own tribute to Super Sic.
MotoGP
A very tough weekend for all the riders, Jorge Lorenzo (who did attend the race) and Colin Edwards (resting at home in Texas after the Sepang crash where he was heavily injured) were unable to race.
The race started with a Turn 1 crash where Bautista went down and 'skittled' Randy De Puniet, Nick Hayden and Valentino Rossi and himself into the gravel trap.
A disappointing result for Rossi who was a close friend to Simoncelli and i imagine would have loved to tribute him by pushing for his first podium of the season.
It wasn't to be and Casey Stoner rode of into the distance leaving Dovi, Pedrosa and Spies to battle it out for 2nd.
Battling right through till the last laps when rain started and Pedrosa backed right off, Stoner going wide, leaving Spies to bring back top spot. It looked like he was going to cross the line in first when Stoner (running in 2nd) gained speed and good a good exit on to the finish straight and took first from Spies with half a wheels length between them.
Behind Spies was Dovizioso and on the last lap rookie of the year Cal Crutchlow took 4th from Pedrosa, the best result for the Brit all season.
How close it was between Ben Spies and Casey Stoner.
The rookie battle - Karel Abraham and Cal Crutchlow
The podium - Ben Spies, Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso
This weekend was the last MotoGP weekend for Honda Gresini rider Hiroshi Aoyama and MotoGP legend Loris Capirossi
And a very happy retirement for Loris! Grazie for the memories, 22 seasons of MotoGP and i'm not sure it's going to be quite the same without you on the grid, you're a legend on an off the track. Spend time with your family and enjoy but don't forget to pop back to say hi!!
Finally a final farewell to Marco Simoncelli, i hope you enjoyed this weekend after all it was all about you, we'll miss you so so much and you will never be forgotten.
Ride in Paradise Super Sic #58
Ciao Marco
