Paolo Simoncelli started Sic58 Squadra Corse in 2013, not even two years after the death of his son, Marco. Since then, he's been a major player in the MotoGP, allowing many young riders to make their debut and begin laying the groundwork for the MotoGP dream.
At 75 years of age, Paolo is ready to retire and, in an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper, he was didn't mince words when asked what was wrong with the formula introduced by Liberty Media, fresh off a handover from Dorna.
"These Americans aim to change everything. Nothing we've built seems to fit. They want to take titles won in the lower categories out of the official counts. Only those in the top class count. So, my son Marco, the Gresinis, or the Nietos would disappear. They want to erase history and aspire only to the entertainment. Well, then let them have a circus. The solution would be simple. Wvery MotoGP team should have a team in the Moto3 and Moto2," he insisted.
Another thing that Paolo said irritates him are the riders of the new generation, who are too set and moulded by those who manage them. "At eighteen, they're already influenced by their managers and have queen-class bodies. They sleep and eat like a Marquez and go to the gym five days out of seven. Also, the age limit for entering the World Championship was raised because of fatal accidents in the CEV, when all they had to do was fill grids less," he stated.
And in relation to Marc, he said that his dominance in riding the Ducati in 2025 didn't surprise him. "I knew he was the fastest. I always liked him. He races and thinks like my son. He never gives up and always goes for it. If Marco hadn't died, we would've had a blast...," he admitted.
If the Spanish rider offered everyone a season to remember, the opposite happened with Bagnaia, who went downhill after a decent start. "Hopefully, he's gotten his head on straight. He wasn't prepared for such a strong partner. Pecco comes from Valentino's group and, by dint of listening to all the things that are said in that group, he underestimated his teammate. The year before, he lost the World Championship by winning eleven races. He thought, 'I'll just need to fall less'. But, on the track, Marc is a beast, and that sent him over the edge," he bitterly stated.
Even if more than a decade has passed since Marco's passing, neither the pain and anger have faded. "I'm pissed off at God. Parents should never outlive their children. But I have no regrets. He died doing something that made him happy."
Then, when asked where her son's ashes were, he concluded: "In his room. Nothing has changed. He still sleeps there."