MotoGP drivers are not united in an association like the GPDA in F1, Andrea Dovizioso highlights the role of the safety commission and that not held by Valentino Rossi.
About Luigi Ciamburro de Motoracing
MotoGP has lost its veteran Valentino Rossi at the end of last season, the same fate will follow Andrea Dovizioso at the end of this championship. The two compatriots shared the same Petronas SRT box during the final races of 2021, no doubt realizing that their days were now just a memory. Too many changes have taken place in this category in recent years, from single tire to single electronic unit, from aerodynamics to leveling devices. The World Championship loses two of its historical figures and for other drivers it could soon lack reference also on other subjects.
In MotoGP, there is on the one hand the manufacturers' association MSMA extension and the association of teams IRTA as well as the world federation END and the promoter Dorna. But no association can protect pilots. The GPDA exists in Formula 1 for decades, currently led by former pilot Alexander Wurz, which allows pilots to coordinate on important issues and put demands on the table with one voice.
Something similar does not exist in the World Championship, although there has been several discussions about founding such an association that can protect drivers also from the point of view of salaries and contracts. Someone even suggested Valentino Rossi as “general manager” but the idea always remained that way, it never came to fruition.
"Valentino Rossi didn't care about these things"
Something vaguely similar is the safety commission which meets every Friday afternoon during MotoGP weekends. Participation is optional, but it must be admitted that the majority of pilots are still active, some like Aleix Espargarò are fixed points.
Does the safety commission respond to all pilots' requests? “ This brought many benefits ", has explained Andrea Dovizioso. " Of course, we can always improve, but it's productive. It's true that we don't have management meetings and we don't always talk about important things ».
In the past, Valentino Rossi refused to be the spokesperson for his colleagues: “ I can understand Valentino “, added Forlì to Motorsport-Total.com. “ I understand that he does what he does for fun, he didn't care about those things ».
