A rivalry, a tragedy, and a lesson in sportsmanship

This is a story at once terrible, startling and moving.

It is about death, sport, why we play and what we look for. It is about the things beyond winning and the power of gesture.

In Europe two men, Luca Salvadori and Filippo Rovelli, live to race motorcycles. They are close rivals for the 2024 National Trophy 1000 title with two rounds to go. Then tragedy barges in. In a separate championship, Salvadori is involved in a multi-rider crash and dies.

Rovelli mourns, but in a telling way. He and his Pistard team withdraw from the last two races of the National Trophy 1000 and he leaves a message on Instagram for his fallen rival.

“This title is yours, Luca, and you earned it well, race after race.

“I wanted to celebrate you differently, shake your hand and tell you in person that you were the best. This championship is yours, and it will forever be yours.

“I am thankful for every moment we spent together.

“I love you.”

I found this story by chance and yet in a way by design. Every few months I type the word “sportsmanship” into Google and travel to another world. I know why I do this. As a sportswriter my life is deeply connected to humans at play and I want it to mean something beyond mere trophies. Something which speaks of humans ascending to places beyond physical summits.