Capirossi to use number 58 for his final race and the final race of the 2011 season

Loris Capirossi, multiple World Champion in the 125cc and 250cc categories, will be retiring from racing at the season closer at Valencia this Sunday.  Capirossi’s final race has been rendered emotionally very heavy by the death of Marco Simoncelli on the Sepang Race Track in Malaysia two weeks back.  The MotoGP paddock is yet to recover from the stunning loss of Simoncelli’s life.  Loris Capirossi, a veteran of more than 300 GP starts will race his final race with Marco Simoncelli’s number 58 as homage to the departed young rider.  Capirossi has ridden all his life with the number 65.  Post the Valencia race, the number 58 is likely to be retired just as 74 was after the death of Daijiro Kato.  Valentino Rossi is also likely to do his own version of a tribute to Simoncelli during the Valencia weekend.