MotoGP Non-Profit

The family of the late MotoGP pilot Marco Simoncelli have worked quickly to make a non-profit organization in memory of "Super Sic" a legal reality.

The idea for "The Marco Simoncelli Foundation" was spawned the Number 58's manager, Carlo Pernat, following the tragic Sepang crash that involved MotoGP's Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards.

The idea was embraced by the Simoncelli family, and quickly developed. Marco's mother, Rosella, will be president of the foundations, with Marco's father's sister Angela Simoncelli and Dr. Arnaldo Cappellini on the board of directors. Also assiting the foundation will be Sister Martina and Marco's girlfririend Kate, Carlo Pernat and MotoGP journalist Paolo Beltramo.

Paolo Simoncelli (Marco's father) says: "We completed all of the paperwork in a very short time, and we are ready to start work. We already have several initiatives underway. For example, on January 20 an event titled 'Happy Birthday Sic' will be held at the 105 Stadium in Rimini, an evening designed for fun as my son would have liked.

"There will be comedians from the TV show Zelig on stage and many of Simoncelli's friends from the GP paddock are also expected to show up. We are also working on an exhibition dedicated to Marco in the City of Coriano, managed directly by the Foundation. We are just getting started and we're surrounded by positivity that was so typical of Marco, positivity that affected everyone around him and made him an extraordinary person."

"The basic premise of the Foundation is that through keeping the memory of Marco alive we can help alleviate suffering of those who are worse off than us. It is hard for me to say where and how the funds raised will be distributed, since I cannot assess how much we will have available as time goes by. One thing is certain; I will try and manage all this as a good father."

"We received a huge number of messages of affection for Marco, and this has helped and continues to help us overcome the difficult times that we live with daily. Seeing how many people loved our son has helped us go on and we believe that ‘The Marco Simoncelli Foundation' represents the best way to remember him in the future."