Dovizioso 'empty' after loss of 'great rival' Simoncelli

Dovizioso 'empty' after loss of 'great

rival' Simoncelli

"I have raced with Marco throughout my whole career, he was 'the rival' and now that he is no longer with us, he has left a big void and I want to convert this feeling of emptiness to determination" – Andrea Dovizioso.

Andrea Dovizioso, a life-long racing rival of fellow Italian Marco Simoncelli, has announced that he will ride with Simoncelli's #58 'close to his heart' in this weekend's Valencia MotoGP season finale.

“I'm very sad for the loss of Marco," said Dovizioso. "I'm going to Valencia not in the right frame of mind for a race. I will wear Marco's number 58 on the chest of my leathers, close to my heart, this is the only thing that counts.

"I have raced with Marco throughout my whole career, he was 'the rival' and now that he is no longer with us, he has left a big void and I want to convert this feeling of emptiness to determination."

Dovizioso, who attended Simoncelli's funeral last week, will start Valencia - his last race for Honda - third in the championship, but just four points ahead of Repsol team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

"I hope to get a good result at Valencia mainly because it is important for me to finish third in the Championship but I know the race will be difficult as it is not one of my favourite circuits and Dani is very strong there," he said.

"Also, the GP of Valencia is my last race with Honda and I really would like to crown these ten years together with a good final race".

Dovizioso will join Tech 3 Yamaha for the 2012 season.

Pedrosa: We will all have Marco in our

thoughts

"This weekend we will all have Marco in our thoughts and I hope the fans show their respect and appreciation to him, as the whole MotoGP family will do" - Dani Pedrosa.

Home favourite Dani Pedrosa will be chasing his third Valencia MotoGP victory this weekend, which would move him above Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso for third in the final standings.

However Pedrosa knows that Valencia will be far from a normal event, following the loss of Marco Simoncelli at the previous Malaysian round.

"Valencia will be a very special race for everybody," he said. "This weekend we will all have Marco in our thoughts and I hope the fans show their respect and appreciation to him, as the whole MotoGP family will do.

"Valencia is a track I like a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing all the fans there again. Last year I couldn't perform very well due to injury, but this time I hope to have a good race and finish the season in a good shape."

Czech fans pay tribute to Simoncelli

More than 1,500 Czech fans honour the memory of Marco Simoncelli.

More than 1,500 Czech fans paid their respects to MotoGP star Marco Simoncelli during a commemorative event at the Brno circuit on Sunday.

Beginning at 14:00 (start time for MotoGP), the event began with a short speech at the podium where Simoncelli had celebrated his first ever MotoGP rostrum in August's Czech Republic Grand Prix (pictured).

A minute's silence was then held, followed by the Italian national anthem and an honorary lap of the Brno Circuit, which was attended by over 1,000 motorcycle riders.

"To be honest, we didn't expect such a large attendance," Pavel Carda, one of the organisers, said. "I would like to thank to the management of the Brno Circuit for permission to organise it and everybody who attended this event."

Bridgestone: Heavy hearts for Valencia

"That we continue racing is in itself a fitting tribute to Marco. He never gave up, so nor shall we" - Hiroshi Yamada.

MotoGP's exclusive tyre suppler, Bridgestone, is confident that the championship will put on a fitting tribute to Marco Simoncelli at Valencia this weekend.

“It is with heavy hearts that we travel to Valencia this week for the final round of the season, but that we continue racing is in itself a fitting tribute to Marco. He never gave up, so nor shall we," said Hiroshi Yamada, Manager of Bridgestone's Motorsport Department.

"Marco will be with us all in our hearts and minds, and no doubt watching every step and at every corner, and I'm sure that the MotoGP family will honour Marco's colourful and vibrant life suitably and appropriately, remembering the good times we all shared with him.”

In preparation for cool temperatures, Bridgestone have selected the soft and medium compound front slicks and the medium and hard rears, the same as used last year.

The softer option rear also features the extra soft compound rubber in the lesser-used right shoulder to maximise warm-up performance.