Finishing in second place at his home MotoGP meant a lot to Valentino Rossi.
Having grown up 10 miles away from the circuit now named after one of his good friends, Marco Simoncelli, the result was more than just a hard-fought trip to the podium. His best result in the dry, it showed us Rossi back to his best, bringing a glimmer of hope back to Ducati and a hint of the charisma that flows best when things are going good.
Simoncelli, who also grew up close to the circuit, was remembered by fans across the weekend: 58s were everywhere, from flags to tattoos but one of the best tributes to Simoncelli was Alvaro Bautista's race result. His third place finish and first MotoGP podium was perfectly timed and a poignant moment for the San Carlo Gresini Honda team who have been through so much over the past 12 months.
Tributes to Simoncelli and Rossi were everywhere and despite Rossi's torried time at Ducati, it's clear he's still seen as a god by his home fans. His second place result cemented that.
Speaking after the race, Rossi said: "I’m happy! But I have to thank a lot of people who continued to believe in me this season, even when times were tough. I’m extremely happy for all the boys at Ducati. It’s a tremendous result. I want to dedicate my race to Simoncelli and his family: Marco helped me today, pushing me to the podium."
