Valentino Rossi is the living legend of Grands Prix, the indestructible, the stainless. At 39 years old, he is still promised MotoGP for two new seasons aboard the Yamaha. He sees young people arriving alongside him to whom he has given the opportunity to flourish at the highest level. He remains in the game and he remains a racing beast. Certainly. But it is also clear that in terms of results, the improvement is a thing of the past...
The Doctor has achieved, and continues to achieve, feats which are challenges for future generations of pilots. In this regard, we will recall that, in his best years, Valentino Rossi celebrated up to eleven Grand Prix victories. A score achieved in 2001, 2002 and 2005. In 2009, he celebrated his hundredth achievement at Assen. And on June 27 of this season, many thought that Giacomo Agostini had to begin to mourn his 15 world titles and his 122 Grand Prix successes. The man from Tavullia was striding towards him.
He was then 30 years old. But in the nine and a half years that have passed since that momentous anniversary, he has won only fifteen other races. Furthermore, Vale regrets three blank seasons. Or without the slightest opportunity to climb to the highest step of the podium. It was in 2011 and 2012, at Ducati. And in 2018 on a Yamaha which has also been broken down since almost 2017.
Over the past six years, he has only ten victories. Here they are detailed by speedweek :
2013: Assen
2014: Misano, Phillip Island
2015: Doha, Las Termas, Assen, Silverstone
2016: Jerez, Catalonia
2017: Assen
2018: no victory
Since, Giacomo Agostini is no longer worried, even if, to deceive, the crew member Vinales spear : " I have to keep making Giacomo a little nervous”. But with only one Grand Prix won in two years, the Yamaha team rider would have to ride at least until age 50 to surpass Ago's record. Not to mention that, during this time, Marc Marquez will continue its forced march towards the top of the statistics…
