The Gresini MotoGP team has revealed a distinctive tribute livery to honour the late Marco Simoncelli ahead of this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix. Simoncelli first joined the MotoGP grid with Gresini in 2010, riding Honda bikes for two seasons and achieving two podium finishes during his tenure.
Tragically, Simoncelli lost his life in an accident at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix. In recognition of his legacy, the Misano World Circuit was renamed in his memory in 2012. This weekend, Gresini will honour their former rider with a special livery at the San Marino Grand Prix.
Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer will race wearing the colors Simoncelli sported in 2010 and 2011 when Gresini was sponsored by San Carlo. The special design was unveiled Thursday evening at Misano, attended by Simoncelli’s late father, Paolo.
The team commented, “Gresini30Seasons returns to Misano, and it is only fitting to pay tribute. This Sunday, the fairings on Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer’s motorcycles will fully honour the bike that marked Marco Simoncelli’s brief but impactful MotoGP career. The unveiling was attended by Paolo Simoncelli, Carmelo and Carlos Ezpeleta, Aldo Drudi, and the entire Gresini Racing Team under Nadia Padovani’s leadership.”
Simoncelli finished fourth at the 2011 San Marino Grand Prix, held at the very circuit now named for him. Gresini regularly adopts special liveries at Misano as a tribute not only to Simoncelli but also to their late founder, Fausto Gresini, who passed away in 2021. Earlier this year, at the German Grand Prix, they sported a livery commemorating Sete Gibernau’s 2003 Sachsenring victory, as part of the team’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
Misano has proven to be a successful venue for Gresini in recent years, with Alex Marquez finishing third here last season. In 2024, Marc Marquez won the San Marino GP and later secured third place at the Emilia Romagna GP, also held at Misano. Other teams, like Ducati’s factory squad and VR46, often debut unique one-off liveries for the Misano round as well.
Fan Take: This tribute livery is a poignant reminder of Marco Simoncelli’s enduring impact on MotoGP and the deep history within the sport. For fans, it’s more than just a visual homage—it keeps the memory of past heroes alive while inspiring the new generation of riders and teams.
Source: www.crash.net
