MotoGP, Austria: The mystery of Valentino Rossi's absence from the Parade of Legends remains unsolved

The Red Bull Ring crowd was in for a treat: during the Legends Parade, yesterday's champions brought out their legendary machines for a Sunday tour of honor. Casey Stoner, Giacomo Agostini, Dani Pedrosa, Gustl Auinger, Luca Cadalora, Loris Capirossi, Simon Crafar, Andrea Dovizioso, Tom Lüthi and Toni Mang made history roar from the stands, like a nod to the clashes of all eras... But one absentee monopolized the conversations: Valentino Rossi.

On the networks, messages poured in: “ Valentino Rossi is absent and while he was there, he should have participated " Some fans have advanced on crash.net a sponsor explanation: “ I'll explain it to you... Rossi is the sponsor of Monster Energy. So, please, he's a little smarter " ; another quipped: " Do you want Monster Energy in the Red Bull house? » In Austria, “house” Red Bull obliges, the theory hit the mark - even if Rossi did not confirm the reason for his absence from the track.

Valentino Rossi did not give a reason for his absence from the Parade of Legends

Ambassador Monster for a long time, Rossi found itself in the heart of a sensitive context. The site is supported by Red Bull, direct rival of Monster.

If he didn't put on the leather, Rossi did not sulk at the party: he warmly embraced Stoner on the grid before the GP, microphone plugged into their complicit aside. The atmosphere was colder with Marc Marquez : the two men crossed paths, and the Spaniard cut short the interpretations explaining that he had not seen it.

To console the tifosis of the 46, the plateau offered a nice piece of nostalgia: Stoner came across a vintage Honda Repsol, among other mechanical gems. Still, many were hoping to see Rossi turn, even just once, within the procession: it will be for another parade - and, who knows, under compatible colors.