Twenty years ago yesterday (1st May 2014) Formula One - a sport I follow religiously - lost arguably it's most talented son.
Ayrton Senna was in another world regarding his out-right speed. The way he could just find a second from nowhere is something no-one has matched to this day, and I dare-say no-one ever will. Three World Championships do not do justice to the skill this man - arguably the greatest driver ever - had behind the wheel.
Senna was also at the forefront of the sport's safety, pushing for improvements all the time so as to avoid fatalities, and even did his bit. At Belgium in 1992, when Erik Comas crashed at Blanchimont, Senna was first on the scene. He stopped his car and risked his own life running across the track to switch off Comas' engine and hold his head in a stable position until doctor's arrived, and this ultimately saved his life.
The fact that people nowadays - who weren't even born on 1st May 1994 (like myself) - talk about and remember Senna in such high regard, is testament to his status as a true legend of our sport. And legends live on forever.
But Ayrton wasn't the only man to die that weekend. We also lost Roland Ratzenberger, a little known Austrian in only his third race weekend.
On 31st April 2014 there was a program on Sky Sports F1 dedicated to Roland where those who knew him in Formula One for the brief period he was there spoke about their memories of him.
It was nice to see a racing driver so down-to-earth and human and with such a personality. I'm disappointed I never had a chance to see him race or meet him, as he seemed like a fantastically genuine guy. He was just so happy to have finally made it to Formula One and I'm glad he achieved his dream.
It's a small crumb of comfort that both men died doing what they loved.
Rest in peace guys, both of you - and what you did for our sport - will never be forgotten.
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