Catch You on the Other Side #58; Marco Simoncelli 1987 - 2011

Well, likely not...he's a fair bit faster than I.

Marco Simoncelli #58

It's a very sad day in motorcycle racing today as FIM MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli succumbed to injuries he received in a crash on the second lap of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Some details are finally beginning to become available, but the footage is online...and it is painful to watch. I can barely write about it, actually. The link is below, but be warned that it is horrifying.

This will be another life given to the gods ruling this sport we all love so much. It happens all around the world far too often; it is the loss of such a promising young athlete, a 'youth' by many measures, who dedicated everything of his being to be the best motorcycle racer he could be which makes this one so significant. His second season, and his best yet, and we all knew he was to be a great...to become legend.

Nothing I can write here will make this any easier for this it has an effect upon, so I can only say: Marco, you will be missed, and I will never forget you nor who you were to the universe. Ride in Peace. See you on the other side.

MotoGP link (not much information): http://tinyurl.com/3hca8zb

MotoGP: Race Direction Press Conference (more information): http://tinyurl.com/5uprsvt

Video of the Crash (Be Warned): http://youtu.be/FkInpkx1hFE

#58

The BBC Explains Their Coverage of Sepang MotoGP Round

They had to cut off the post-race interviews and the Valentino Rossi Championship celebration, and BBC viewers were - and are - ticked off! The reason this happened was due to the delay of the MotoGP race start due to the heavy downpour at the Malaysian track, thus delaying the race start by 40 minutes. The BBC says that it had no choice due to prior scheduling commitments; it had to start the race on one channel, switch the second half of the race to another one - and, then, cut the final part of the event...Sometimes it's good to have delayed viewing, sometimes...

http://tinyurl.com/ylsmjqf

MotoGP Sepang Insider: More Rumors of Rossi Switching to Ducati

I don't think these rumors of Valentino Rossi making the move to race on a Ducati will never die! They come and go like the tides even as Rossi denies them. Still, such things are often denied to deflect coverage of the story while real negotiations are happening behind the scene. At least the post-Championship race party was incredibly fun (and expensive)!

http://tinyurl.com/yh77f5g

MotoGP Results: Valentino Rossi is the 2009 MotoGP World Champion

Rossi has now clenched his ninth World Championship - and his seventh in the premier MotoGP class - after a tough race at Sepang in Malaysia. Casey Stoner took the victory at the track - as many expected - but Rossi came home in third place. Dani Pedrosa slotted in the second position on the podium, with Jorge Lorenzo finishing in and uncharacteristic fourth position. Of course, all of the other racing was forgotten when the announcement came that Rossi was now the MotoGP World Champion - AGAIN!

http://tinyurl.com/yzwxnug

http://tinyurl.com/yf87cxp

http://tinyurl.com/yk5eqhh

Some photos at the event (should be updated on occasion, so look back often): http://tinyurl.com/ylx7xqd

Race reports from all teams can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/yz8elyp

MotoGP Results: 250 World Championship at Sepang in Malaysia

Hiroshi Aoyama is one step closer to winning the 250c.c. World Championship after today's race at Sepang in Malaysia. Aoyama took the win and is now 21 points ahead in the final standings. Simoncelli pulled a third place finish at the event, but it will be tough to take the championship unless Aoyama finished far behind him in Valencia. Alvaro Bautista crashed for the third consecutive race and his title hopes are now gone...

http://tinyurl.com/ykewmuy

http://tinyurl.com/yk5wvwb

Overall 250c.c. World Championship standings with one race remaining: http://tinyurl.com/yjllbfc

Missed Story - Malaysian Wildcard Riders to be Awarded Aprilia Motorcycles

The team backer for the two Malaysian wildcard riders, AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, has promised each rider a free-of-charge Aprilia motorcycle if the two riders were to finish the entire race. Well, rider Elly Idzlianizar Ilias finished in 16th place (a fantastic finish for a completely new racer), and rider Muhd Zulfahmi Khairuddin finished in 20th place (still, very respectable). That means that both riders will take their reward - and they certainly deserve it!

http://tinyurl.com/yh26cyh

http://tinyurl.com/yfm28mu

P.S. For the 125c.c. finish, just check the previous post.

MotoGP Results: 125 World Championship at Sepang in Malaysia

The 125c.c. Champion has already been crowned, and it is the Aspar Aprilia Ace Julian Simon. He showed just how much he deserves the honor by winning his race at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix today. He fought an almost race-long battle with his teammate Bradley Smith. Pol Espargaro rounded out the podium...

http://tinyurl.com/ygqsszf

http://tinyurl.com/yj6wd6n

Overall standings after Sepang: http://tinyurl.com/yjot8h2

Rossi Qualifies on Pole for Malaysian MotoGP Race - Track Record Broken

Velentino Rossi has clenched the pole position for the MotoGP race at Sepang which might see him take the overall Championship. Rossi also broke his own lap record at the track. Casey Stoner was almost a second slower than Rossi and will start in fourth. Jorge Lorenzo finished in second and Dani Pedrosa followed him to third. The actual race, though, could turn out to have a very different finishing order, so make sure to watch!

http://tinyurl.com/yf4sgvp - Also includes 250 and 125 qualifying

http://tinyurl.com/yjdodpp

James Toseland had a terrible qualifying run and only managed 16th on the grid. He had trouble with finding grip on his YZR-M1: http://tinyurl.com/yg6fzma

All Team MotoGP Qualifying Reports can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/yz8elyp

Hiroshi Aoyama Again Tops Qualifying at Malaysian MotoGP Round

Aoyama has placed himself high enough above Simoncelli to make the fight for the title seem easily obtainable for the Japanese rider. Simoncelli only managed to get eighth on the starting grid for tomorrow's race. What will happen? Who knows as the 250c.c. Championship race can see some incredible racing - Marco could still beat Hiroshi if things go his way...

http://tinyurl.com/ygxoev2

http://tinyurl.com/ygjxwjy

MotoGP: Malaysian Grand Prix 125 World Championship Qualifying

Marc Marquez managed to take pole position for the second time this season at the Sepang International Circuit. He was followed by Julian Simon and Bradley Smith, who will sit second and third on the grid, respectively. Smith has a broken right foot, which he sustained at the end of the qualifying session, but will ride in the race anyway; after qualifying third, he feels he can have a great race, so why not?

http://tinyurl.com/yf7p9fg

http://tinyurl.com/yl4srbs

Malaysian Wildcard Riders Participate in First 125 World Championship Practice

They did not exactly ride at the front - and one had a get-off - but they did well in their first ever ride with the World Championship-level racers at Sepang. Elly Idzlianizar Ilias and Muhd Zulfahmi Khairuddin managed to place 24th and 29th, respectively, in the first practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Will they improve? Will they be a real challenge to the field? We can only watch and see for ourselves...

http://tinyurl.com/yfzdpzu

Jorge Lorenzo Fastest in First Practice at Malaysia MotoGP Round

Lorenzo was very fast at the first MotoGP practice of the weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Casey Stoner was right on his heels, though, and came in a close second. Rossi was not really on his game and pulled a fourth place finish in this practice. Rossi does not need to win the GP to take the MotoGP Championship, but expect him to do much better when it comes time to qualify!

http://tinyurl.com/yk4kwqh

http://tinyurl.com/yz8vun9

The Two Top MotoGP Columns Write About the Malaysia MotoGP Round

Steve Parrish and Matt Roberts are both well-known in the world of media covering the MotoGP Championship. Today, we have both of them writing about what Phillip Island meant to the overall championships in the three series (MotoGP, 250c.c., 125c.c.) and what we should look for in Malaysia. Rossi could take the title Sunday; Aoyama and Simoncelli are both possible 250c.c. Championship contenders; and, we all know that Simon is the 125c.c. champion, but who will be in second or third? Read both of these and you will be doing yourself a great service!

Steve Parrish: http://tinyurl.com/yh42wwx

Matt Roberts: http://tinyurl.com/ykbgjlx

Hiroshi Aoyama on Top Of Time Sheets at Malaysian MotoGP Round

Aoyama powered to the first position in the first practice at Sepang, Marco Simoncelli only made it to tenth. However, Simoncelli can often be accused of 'sandbagging' and when qualifying comes around, we will probably see him move much closer to the top. He is only 12 points shy of 250c.c. championship leader Aoyama, so this race is important to both riders! Again, watch it as it will be worth it!

http://tinyurl.com/yzx9q2w

http://tinyurl.com/yz9u3de

Malaysian MotoGP Round 125 First Pratice Results

Britain's Bradley Smith took the first position in today's practice - he was fast right off the start. He managed to get passed Marc Marquez on the KTM and Julian Simon, Smith's teammate at Aspar Aprilia, who took third position. The heat in Malaysia is incredible this weekend, so that may contribute to an odd race weekend...get ready and watch!

http://tinyurl.com/yfllxdh

http://tinyurl.com/ykv5grk

http://tinyurl.com/yfv54dj

MotoGP Riders Must Look After Their Health in Malaysia

This has been covered - especially concerning Casey Stoner - but it is an important aspect of racing at the highest level in the world. In Malaysia, riders have to deal with intense heat and energy-sapping humidity. They must drink constantly as they can loose up to 2kg of water wait in one 45 minute session on the track. So, how are they dealing with it and who is helping them?

http://tinyurl.com/yk98585

Elly Idzlianizar Ilias is Getting Ready for His Wildcard Ride at Sepang MotoGP Round

The Malaysian is hoping that he will not be too nervous once he is sitting on the 125c.c. World Championship grid this coming weekend. He is one of two Malaysian wildcard entries into the class; the other is Mohd Zulfahmi Khairuddin. All Ilias is hoping for is a good race since there is no pressure on him to get on the podium. Let's all hope he and his countryman do very well at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend!

http://tinyurl.com/yl9orhl

Aleix Espargaro Will Ride in Place of Niccolo Canepa at Malaysian MotoGP Round

Espargaro will get another chance to gain valuable experience racing in MotoGP - which is where he will be in 2010 - at this weekend's Malaysian MotoGP race. He impressed the Pramac Racing team so much with his ride at Indy and Misano that they hired him full time next year. So, this will certainly help him come to grips with the rather nervous Ducati Desmosedici before he is trying for the championship...

http://tinyurl.com/yg8br2n

Two Malaysian Riders to Have Wildcard Ride at Malaysian MotoGP

Elly Idzlianizar Ilias and Mohd Zulfahmi Khairuddin will have a chance to race against the best 125c.c. riders in the world on 23 - 25 October 2009. They will happily represent the home country on the Sepang International Circuit and will certainly be cheered on by local fans. It is a chance of a lifetime - I really hope they do very well! More competition is always good for fans...

http://tinyurl.com/yz9gaa8

Blake Leigh-Smith to Get Wildcard Ride at Malaysian Grand Prix

He is the Australian 125GP Champion and now Leigh-Smith will get to ride on an Aprilia 125 with the Molenaar De Graaf World 125 GP team. His teammates will be Danny Webb and Randy Krumenacher. Currently, Leigh-Smith is running in the ultra-competitive Spanish 125c.c. Championship. It should be a good test for him to race against the world's best!

http://tinyurl.com/yzumhoo