Gresini Honda's Marco Simoncelli has apparently received threats of physical violence ahead of this weekend's Barcelona MotoGP race after his Le Mans collision with the Repsol Honda of Dani Pedrosa, who hails from the area.

It has been reported by news agency Ansa, which is a bit like Reuters but far more Italian, that grumblings on social networking sites have spiralled into actual threats to Simoncelli's health and team boss Fausto Gresini has confirmed their existence.

Simoncelli, meanwhile, doesn't appear to be massively concerned and has said, post-Le Mans, he now knows where he has gone wrong and will think about things in future.

“I have had time over the two-week break to think about the race at Le Mans. I am still disappointed with what happened to Dani and I hope that he has recovered from his injury in time for this weekend. I am also disappointed because Honda were unable to celebrate having four bikes in the top four positions at the French Grand Prix," said the Italian.

"Overall on reflection I have realised where I have gone wrong and in the future I will try at certain times to evaluate the situation better and be a little more cautious. I know that I'm probably not going to get a standing ovation at Barcelona but I hope that if I am criticised it is done in a civilised manner and not in the way that has happened in other sports in the past. In any case I just want to put the controversy behind me and get out there on my bike and start working towards a race that I am sure the team and I have the potential to do well in.”