Valentino Rossi st𒆙ill carries the “pain” of losing his friend Marco Simoncelli, it has been claimed.

The talented MotoGP rider nicknamed Sic lost his life in a🗹 tragic accident at the Sepang cไircuit in 2011.

Rossi, who was involved in the accident, later appeared at Simoncelli’s funeral which was watched on television in It⛦aly. The motorsport came together to pay their respect and he hasn’t been forgotten.

“After what happened, I stayed at the home of Paolo S🧜imoncelli and his family, in Coriano, for about two months," veteran agent Carlo Pernat told .

"It was a way to gain strength tog🔴ether, as Marco would have wanted.

I ha🅷ve never hidden that at that time I even thought about quitting racing.”

Pernat revealed about Rossi in the aftermath of Simoncel🌜li’s death: "In those two months he didn't show up and he didn't make himself heard.

“Paolo was 🍰a little disappoin💟ted considering the relationship that Vale had with Marco.

“Only later did I understand the reason for that attitude: Valentino blamed himself because the last ꦆwheel that passed on Marco's boꦿdy in that cursed accident was that of his Ducati.

“He thought it was his fault."

Eventually, Rossi s♎howed up at Simoncelli’s father home for an emotional reunion.

"When he saw Paolo, hugged him and s🧜aid 'soওrry, it was me',” Pernat said.

“He lived🦄 that period very badly and I think he is still carrying it with 🐠him.

“That pain remained in his 🀅head, Marco was his bꦜest friend."

Valentino Rossi set up academy to honour Marco Simoncelli

Rossi went on to beco♐⭕me MotoGP’s greatest star with nine world championships.

He set up the VR꧒46 Academy in honour of h🧜is friend Simoncelli, designed to bring through Italian talent.

Francesco Bagnaia became the first graduate to win th🦋e MotoGP title in 2022.

But the mission started with Simoncelli.

"Marco ❀was a winner and I can guarantee that the friendship with Valentino began to crack a bit when 𝄹he put him behind in some races,” Pernat remembered.

“After all, there is nothing worse than a friend who beats🐬 you, even if they were really very good friends.”

Pernat said about the foundation in Simoncelli’s name: "It g♛rosses almost 2 million euros a year and it is no coincidence, because Marco was truly loved.

“He was a friend to everyo꧂ne. It was impossible not to get along with him."