Simone Bertoncini was passionate about motorcycles from an early age. A native of Mologno, in the municipality of Barga, province of Lucca, Italy, he was determinated to go racing and there was no point trying to stop him. At the age of 20 he had his debut in the 2010 Campionato Italiano Velocità Montagna (Italian Hillclimb Speed Championship), in the 125 cm3 Open class, riding for Moto Club Garfagnana. The following year he joined the New Dragon Fly Team and progressed to the 250 cm3 class, taking part in a few races of the 2011 season. He scored two remarkable class wins, including the Sillano-Ospitaletto hillclimb held in province of Lucca. A rising youngster with great potential, he had planned to contest a full season in 2012, riding his Aprilia 250.
The last race of the Italian season was the "Cantoni di Oneta-Passo Zambla - 2° Memorial Fausto Duci", held in province of Bergamo. Scheduled on Sunday, 04 September 2011, the event was also a round of the 2011 European Hillclimb Championship. Before the start of the official practice session, on Friday, 02 September 2011, the organizers allowed the racers to make familiarisation runs on the course Gorno-Oneta-Passo Zambla. Simone Bertoncini started his stint at about 17h30.
On the approach to a sharp turn of the hillclimb near the small village of Oneta, Simone Bertoncini found another competitor, Rudy Ronzani, 36, of Grancona, Vicenza, coming at speed from the opposite direction. The impact was unavoidable, Bertoncini ploughed head-on into the other bike and both the riders were thrown into air, hitting the asphalt several meters ahead. Simone Bertoncini was pronounced dead after medical personnel who reached the place of accident in a matter of minutes, were unable to revive him.
Owing to this tragedy, the event was stopped and the organizers decided to cancel the hillclimb.
R.I.P
