Carmelo Ezpeleta can begin to see, after four Grands Prix contested this season, the impact of the absence of Valentino Rossi who was on the starting grids for 26 years. Given the intensity of the competition currently observed that his patient work with his Dorna troops has enabled, he has arguments to argue that the page has turned smoothly. But the next European Grands Prix will be strong indicators on a subject that the Doctor also addresses with complete frankness, also bringing his contribution to this last final touch concerning him…
Carmelo Ezpeleta made a first point that after Red in MotoGP and to make himself understood he draws the parallel with another resounding departure in his environment: that of Lionel Messi from the Barcelona football team: “ the comparison is there, but I didn't cry for either Messi or Rossi. There was of course great gratitude for everything these two geniuses gave over so many years. But if we insinuate that with Valentino's farewell everything has to be done again, that is not the case. MotoGP is a consolidated entity that flies alone ».
The CEO of Dorna Sports is absolutely convinced that the future of the world championship is secure: “ we try to have the best who compete. It is true that Valentino Rossi led an entire generation, but in recent years he has had little success. I have already lived through the post-American, post-Doohan periods, and the championship has always been stronger ».
Valentino Rossi: “je suis resté moi-même et les gens ont aimé ça"
And what does the person concerned say about it? In an interview with ' The newspaper ', he commented in particular: “ I don't know how there could have been such enthusiasm. Maybe my secret was that I didn't want to become a character. Or at least not at any cost. I stayed myself and people liked it ". On its longevity, he adds: “ I did it because I believed in it, because I believed that I could continue to win and I was very competitive until the middle of the 2019 season. It's certain that I wasn't the Valentino Rossi of ten years ago, that's normal, but I believed in it ».
« I could have stopped a year earlier, at the end of 2020, but it was the Covid year with several races on the same track and without an audience. That's when I said to myself, what should I do? Should I just give up? No, come on, I'm going to do it again for another year ". Then on MotoGP, he readily admits: “ MotoGP is a wonderful thing. It works, people watch, there are other Italian riders, there is Ducati ". See you in Portimao next weekend for the continuation of this epic.
