Cheers, tears as mourners honour MotoGP rider Simoncelli
- 13 years ago
Applause and tears as the casket of MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli is carried into a building in his hometown of Coriano in northern Italy.
Simoncelli died at the age of 24 during a race on Sunday in Malaysia when he lost control of his motorcycle and was struck by fellow riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.
On this rainy Wednesday, one of his bikes - branded with his racing number 58 - is wheeled past adoring fans.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FAN ROSSELLA FORNASARI, SAYING:
"We felt we had to come because we had the honour, not the luck, to know him. He was a great person, a genuine person on and off the track."
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CORIANO RESIDENT JESSIA PERLA, SAYING:
"It's so difficult to express our feelings. He was a youngster like us, we are all from here and it has just wounded our hearts. The only consolation is to look at his parents, who have been so strong. It's so difficult."
Floral tributes and messages decorate the town square nearby, and one banner reads "To be fond of you was easy; to forget you will be impossible".
Simoncelli's funeral will take place on Thursday, and officials expect 50,000 people to attend.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
Simoncelli died at the age of 24 during a race on Sunday in Malaysia when he lost control of his motorcycle and was struck by fellow riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.
On this rainy Wednesday, one of his bikes - branded with his racing number 58 - is wheeled past adoring fans.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FAN ROSSELLA FORNASARI, SAYING:
"We felt we had to come because we had the honour, not the luck, to know him. He was a great person, a genuine person on and off the track."
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) CORIANO RESIDENT JESSIA PERLA, SAYING:
"It's so difficult to express our feelings. He was a youngster like us, we are all from here and it has just wounded our hearts. The only consolation is to look at his parents, who have been so strong. It's so difficult."
Floral tributes and messages decorate the town square nearby, and one banner reads "To be fond of you was easy; to forget you will be impossible".
Simoncelli's funeral will take place on Thursday, and officials expect 50,000 people to attend.
Travis Brecher, Reuters