Craig, I know that you are torn-up about this tragedy, as am I. This death has hit home with many riders across many different cliques of motorcyclists. Sometimes we are reminded of just how fragile our grip on life really is. One thing that has given me some comfort is to re-trace some of Marco's short but brilliant career over the past week. Much like the loss of Shoya Tomizawa, we lost a true character and a positive spirit in motorcycle racing. Neither of these two can be replaced, but they do give us a tangible measuring stick for future riders. It is a shame that as American fans we get limited coverage of any rider who is not fluent in English. Marco was a true ambassador to the sport, and would have been a name brand for the next 10 years.
My DVR somehow missed this race all together. I finally got to see a youtube video of the first lap before the crash. Classic Marco. Dukeing it out with anther young gun (Alvero Bautiusta.) Neither would give an inch, and this is how it should be.
Many times you have linked a cool old advert, race video, Cycle News, or After the Flag. It's my turn to return the favor. I'll bet that you have been avoiding any coverage, but you should watch this episode of After the Flag. There is absolutely no negative, depressing, or gory stuff here. It's a 100% positive recap of Marco's life and racing career. As only MotoGp can, they pay tribute to a fallen hero. Trust me, watch it:
www.motogp.com/en/After+the+Flag
I read the Cycle News tribute article. The writer asked Marco what his favorite Hendrix song was since Marco had obviously styled himself after Jimi. The answer, not surprisingly, was "Little Wing."
Caio Marco!