#welkom 2003

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Welkom 2003: Valentino tries to hold hands with Sete after the race but Sete’s too excited <3

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Sete talking about the aftermath of Daijiro Kato’s fatal incident in 2021

The pre-season started amazingly with Daijiro, but everything was interrupted when the Suzuka incident happened. We did a great job and then everything stopped. My dream dissolved into nothing, because there was a stage where we thought we could not continue that year, understand? Because we did not know how to react. To be honest, when I called Fausto, looking for answers, to ask what we were going to do and I'm just 'fuck I have no idea!' I don't have the strength & I need someone to tell me something or other. 'So he and Chekini (*Fabrizio) gave me the responsibility to say if we would go to South Africa. I remember that during this conversation I was at my house in Switzerland & I was alone, Esther was not with me, I was alone at home & I remember the conversation, because when I hung up, I looked around and thought 'Shit! I'm too alone in this whole thing, can anyone help me? I do not know what to do', I just cried & did not know how I can decide whether to travel to South Africa, I just do not know. I went to sleep & when I got up I called Fausto & told him 'Daijiro would like us to go, at least try' & there was a click, everyone straight away agreed & it seemed like everyone waited to just hear if we are traveling or not, that someone would make a decision. That's when the friendship really began & went far beyond the boundaries of racing with the whole team. I remember all the stages, those moments where at first I did not know what to do, to the decision to go and the next thing is that we got to South Africa, to the Welkom track. Everyone was there and I went into the garage, which was very small, it was just me and no Daijiro, no 'Another motorcycle', there is no one and then it really was 'Shit .. he really is not here anymore'. It was the confirmation of something I already knew."

[source @ Tammy Gorali on twitter; thank you @melatifosa for send me this like ages ago]

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Sete being followed by Biaggi and Valentino during the race at Welkom, 2003

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Sete and Biaggi on the podium at Welkom, 2003

— from “2003 motorcycle yearbook” [scanned by @melatifosa <3]

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Welkom 2003: Valentino and Sete discuss the trophy

for context: that gp was sponsored by a sunglasses brand and so the trophy looked like this:

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Sete and his crew chief Juan Martinez have a moment after the race at Welkom, 2003

@beccopagnaias thank you for the clip😘

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Welkom 2003

[autotranslated from japanese]

Rossi moved up to second place due to Biaggi’s mistake and steadily narrowed the gap to the leader, Gibernau. Would Gibernau hold on to his lead, or would Rossi stage a comeback? Rossi closed in on Gibernau, and the two entered the final lap with a gap of just 0.5 seconds. Despite feeling the pressure from Rossi closing in from behind, Gibernau never looked back, only looking straight ahead. Had Gibernau ever shown such strength before? The opponent Rossi was chasing now was clearly different from the Gibernau of the past. Rossi sensed a strong will to win in Gibernau's back. It was a desperate chase for Rossi as well. However, he couldn't find a chance to get ahead as the remaining corners dwindled one by one. The gap was a mere 0.3 seconds. Sete Gibernau had shaken off the pursuit of champion Rossi. Gibernau’s first GP victory in the race immediately following the tragic accident at Suzuka is a magnificent tribute to his late teammate.

[bikefuckersoftheworldunite]

Welkom 2003