Crash.net's Top 10 MotoGP stories of 2011
It was a season where Casey Stoner romped to the championship title, where Valentino Rossi's much-anticipated move to Ducati proved to be nothing short of a disaster and where MotoGP lost one of its most charismatic and popular figures.
What follows are the top ten most read MotoGP stories right here on Crash.net during the 2011 campaign...
1. Marco Simoncelli dies from Sepang MotoGP injuries - 23 October 2011
Without doubt the biggest news story from the 2011 MotoGP season was the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli at the age of just 24-years-old. Just a week after taking his best ever finish at Phillip Island, Simoncelli was fatally injured in a horrific accident at Sepang, robbing motorcycle racing of one of its true rising stars.
2. Valentino Rossi: Simoncelli was like a brother - 23 October 2011
Simoncelli's death rocked MotoGP to its core, with fellow riders left shocked at the loss of the Gresini Honda rider. Multiple champion Valentino Rossi was one of the riders involved in the incident that cost Simoncelli his life, and was left to reflect on the loss of a rival he viewed 'like a brother'.
3. Serious accident for Marco Simoncelli stops Malaysian Grand Prix - 23 October 2011
The initial breaking report that the Malaysian race at Sepang had been halted came immediately after Simoncelli's accident took place, with fellow riders and fans alike waiting to hear on the condition of Italian. Sadly, the news everyone hoped for, never arrived.
4. What Stoner said to Rossi after Jerez crash - 4 April 2011
Had it not been for Simoncelli's tragic death, your most read story would have focused on the conversation between Rossi and Casey Stoner after the pair clashed at Jerez - with Stoner telling his Ducati rival that his 'ambition outweighed his talent'.
5. Tributes paid to MotoGP star Marco Simoncelli - 23 October 2011
Members of the motorsport community on both two-wheels and four-wheels pay tribute to Marco Simoncelli after his death at Sepang.
6. Rossi: We are quite worried - 25 February 2011
Having signed with Ducati for the 2011 season, Valentino Rossi admitted he was 'quite worried' by the fact he found himself nearly two seconds off the pace during the second MotoGP test at the Sepang circuit back at the start of the year - a sign of things to come...
7. Rossi issues instructions after first Ducati race - 21 March 2011
After his difficult pre-season, Valentino Rossi can only finish seventh in the season opener in Qatar and reveals he has given 'specific instructions' about what needs to be done to improve things.
8. Stoner blasts marshals after Rossi collision - 4 April 2011
After his clash with Valentino Rossi at Jerez, Casey Stoner hits out at the Spanish marshals for the lack of assistance while he was trying to rejoin the race - leaving him to retire while Rossi rejoined to take fifth.
9. Simoncelli rejects blame for Pedrosa crash - 16 May 2011
Simoncelli was left far from happy at being handed a ride-through penalty at Le Mans, after a clash with Dani Pedrosa during the French MotoGP left the Repsol Honda rider with a broken collarbone.
10. Friends, rivals salute Simoncelli at funeral service - 27 October 2011
Friends and rivals unite in Marco Simoncelli's home town Coriano as the Italian is laid to rest following his death at Sepang.
