World Champion 500 in 1983 and 85, but also in 250 in 1985, Spencer spent his last season in 1993. That year, Rossi took part in the Italian Sport Production Championship on a 125 Cagiva Mito. The two men therefore never met on a track, but had the opportunity to discover each other afterwards. Freddie Spencer, who knows the difficulty of the competition, does not hide his admiration for Vale.
“Remaining at the top in Grand Prix for 22 years is proof of Valentino’s determination. He has gone through difficult times in recent years, at Ducati but also due to opposition from Jorge Lorenzo. This did not prevent him from becoming victorious again in 2013 and he almost won the Championship in 2015. The arrival of Marc Marquez in 2013 gave him renewed energy, and we must not forget that he trains a lot on dirt track on his ranch. It's good motivation for him to ride with the young people from his Academy.
“He contributed greatly to the popularity of Grands Prix outside the motorcycle community. It is now in a period of change, with new tires and unique electronics, as well as the arrival of Maverick Vinales. He went through very different periods technically, winning at the start with a 500 2-stroke without any electronics. And the character of the 2-stroke is truly unique. The way of riding this type of motorcycle is very different from that used for a MotoGP. He managed to adapt his driving style, although already quite late in his career. It's never easy to do, and even less so when you're well over thirty. He was able to achieve that and be competitive.
“Talent is one thing, but racing experience is the key for him. He is capable of regularly performing fast laps, which is his strong point. And it gets better with age. In my opinion he makes fewer mistakes now than before.
“He is completely capable of positioning himself well in the GP world and it’s fascinating. When I was still racing, during my ten years of world racing, I returned home to Louisiana every time, about every two weeks. I would arrive at the track, race, then fly home. Valentino spends a long time with his team, preparing his bike, and it's very special. That's why he didn't go racing. For him, it's not a profession, it's more than that. »
Photo: Freddie Spencer, Phil Read, John Surtees, Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini at the Godwood Festival of Speed in 2015.
Source: MotoGP preview with Freddie Spencer, in association with Mercedes-Benz by Ed Foster
