Nieto remembered during Czech MotoGP

Brno, August 7: MotoGP riders and officials paid glowing tributes to the late Angel Nieto, ahead of the CzechGP in Brno last week.

A 13-time world champion in two categories, Nieto was seriously injured on July 26 when his quad bike collided with a car on the Spanish island of Ibiza and died in hospital from his injuries at the age of 70 last Thursday.

Before the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP racers prepared to take to the track in Brno, competitors and organisers stood in silence in front of a banner emblazoned with the words "Gracias Maestro," ("Thank you, teacher/master") -- paying homage to a man widely considered to be one of the greatest motorcycling racers of all time.

Former racer and a close friend of Nieto, Jorge Martínez Salvadores, nicknamed "Aspar", led the ceremony, joined by the head of the company that organises the MotoGP World Championships, Carmelo Ezpeleta, and Federation of International Motorcycling president Vito Ippolito.

The crowd also brought together some of the modern legends of the sport like Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo.

KTM rider Pol Espargaro gave a touching tribute by wearing a Nieto replica helmet.