Last Friday, Moto2 rider Luis Salom died following a crash in Free Practice for the Moto2 series weekend at Circuit de Catalunya near Barclona. The young Spanish rider was just 25 at the time of his death, though he was already in his eight season in the Moto3 and Moto2 championship. Salom’s death cast a pall over the weekend, though his family insisted the races go on as scheduled for the weekend. This was the first death in the MotoGP championships since Marco Somincelli’s death in 2011 at Sepang and is just the fourth in the last two decades.
From the storytelling and recounts among his competitors, teammates, and former bosses in the paddock, it’s clear that Salom was one of a kind and carried the kind of energy that will be sorely missed. MotoGP compiled those in a touching video tribute that’s worth your time.The races were held in honor of Salom and the main event was a fitting salute to the fallen rider with MotoGP heavyweight rivals Valentino Rossi and hometown boy Marc Marquez duking it out in an electric race to the flag.
