The historic feud between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez continues to fuel paddock chatter. But for Loris Capirossi, a three-time world champion and witness to numerous on-track rivalries, time will heal even the deepest wounds.
The Italian knows something about it: in 1998, during the 250cc final in Argentina, he had provoked one of the most controversial episodes in the history of motorcycling by sending Tetsuya Harada to the mat in the last turn, winning the title.
Despite the extreme tension arising from this violent contact – which had earned him a points deduction from the FIM (later overturned in court) and a dismissal from Aprilia – Capirossi emphasizes today that his relationship with Harada has evolved:
« Today, we are great friends. There was a strong rivalry, and the story is well known, but time always puts things back in place when we stop competing and are no longer opponents, but former colleagues »
The friendship born with Harada now goes beyond the track: " a beautiful friendship was born, even between families, and everything was made easier by the fact that we are practically neighbors »
Loris Capirossi: “ From Stoner to Biaggi: Rossi has already turned other pages »
Capirossi draws on other examples to illustrate his optimism: “ I think Rossi and Marquez will eventually make peace. Sooner or later they will have to, at least I hope so. »
And to add on crash.net : " Let's take the example of Casey Stoner or Jorge Lorenzo himself: Valentino also invited them to the Ranch and now all that is behind him. There is esteem, friendship, respect and the proud memory of what it was like.. »
Even with Max Biaggi, once sworn enemy, Rossi now shares laughs about their past rivalry: “ time always fixes things when you stop running, and I think, and even hope, that it will be the same between Vale and Marc »
Capirossi concludes with a touch of realism but without losing hope: " Well, maybe it won't be like that, but time eases all tensions »
For the old pilot Ducati, the rivalry Rossi–Marquez, however fierce and striking it may be, will eventually transform, like so many others, into mutual respect and shared memory. In the meantime, the paddock will remember the lesson of the wise man of 52 years : no rivalry lasts forever. Even the most fratricidal wars eventually become... stories to tell your grandchildren.
