• Italian's funeral held in his home town
• Valentino Rossi leading tributes to MotoGP rider

Thousands of fans have filled the streets of Coriano in central Italy to pay their final respects to the MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli, whose funeral has been taking place at the church of Santa Maria Assunta in his home town.

The hearse arrived at the church just before 3pm local time. Beside Simoncelli's coffin were two motorcycles – one that he rode to win the 250cc championship in 2008 and another used this season.

The seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi was set to ride Simoncelli's motorcycle out at the end of the service as a tribute to his close friend, who died following a crash at Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Simoncelli's funeral was being broadcast live on big screens outside the church and at the nearby Misano Adriatico circuit, as well as on various Italian television stations.