Gresini MotoGP Team Unveils Marco Simoncelli Tribute Livery

The Gresini Racing MotoGP team will compete at this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix with a special livery honoring its late rider, Marco Simoncelli. The tribute design was unveiled on Thursday evening at the Misano World Circuit.

Simoncelli made his MotoGP debut with Gresini in 2010 when the team ran Honda machinery. He competed for the squad for two seasons, scoring two podiums. The Italian rider was tragically killed in an incident at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Tribute Design and Unveiling

Riders Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer will race with bikes painted in the colors Simoncelli used during his 2010 and 2011 campaigns. That period saw the team sponsored by San Carlo. The livery unveiling was attended by Marco Simoncelli's father, Paolo, along with Carmelo and Carlos Ezpeleta of Dorna, designer Aldo Drudi, and the Gresini team led by Nadia Padovani.

In a statement, the team described the tribute as "heartfelt" and "inevitable." It noted that the fairings would pay "full tribute to the machine that accompanied Marco Simoncelli during his tragically short MotoGP career."

A Circuit of Significance

The Misano circuit holds profound significance for this tribute. In 2012, the track was renamed the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Simoncelli himself finished fourth at the 2011 San Marino Grand Prix held at this venue. The team stated that returning to Misano for its 30th-anniversary celebrations made the homage fitting.

Gresini has a tradition of running special liveries at its home race. The team often honors its late founder, Fausto Gresini, who died in 2021. This year's Simoncelli tribute is part of the broader "Gresini30Seasons" anniversary celebrations.

Recent Success and Broader Context

Misano has been a successful circuit for the Gresini team in recent seasons. Alex Marquez finished third at last year's San Marino Grand Prix. In the current 2024 season, Marc Marquez won the San Marino Grand Prix before taking third at the subsequent Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, held at the same circuit.

The team also ran a special livery earlier this year at the German Grand Prix. That design paid tribute to Sete Gibernau's victory at the Sachsenring in 2003. The practice of one-off liveries at Misano is common, with other teams like the Ducati factory squad and VR46 also typically sporting unique designs for the event.

The tribute ensures Simoncelli's memory remains a visible part of the MotoGP paddock at the circuit that bears his name.