This is a speculation that is currently going on in Spain and which shows to what extent Valentino Rossi is not a driver like the others. With this rumor of a Saudi prince forcing him to continue his career on one of his motorcycles, we already have a foretaste of the political and economic weight of the eight-time World Champion. Here's the rest, with what promoter Dorna is thinking when the Doctor withdraws from the starting grid. An absence that will cost so much that Carmelo Ezpeleta puts together a plan B to match the event...
Valentino Rossi has taken on such a dimension that he can apparently only decide for himself. We currently see it with the plans for its brand VR46 in MotoGP, which are subject to the desires of Saudi financiers. We also realize it a little more with this noise coming from Spain which is not insignificant given the names pronounced.
The hypothesis of the departure of Valentino Rossi of the grid MotoGP must be considered with the greatest seriousness. After more than a quarter of a century, the Doctor is truly on his way out of the world championship. And this Vale retreat will certainly cost a lot of money to Dorna. To cushion the shock, the boss Carmelo Ezpeleta would prepare a plan B.
The scenario of a sensational farewell to motorcycling by the rider who has had the most impact on the industry in recent decades is a prospect that is already causing quite a bit of disappointment among the millions of fans who follow him all over the world. Which means that this withdrawal will have economic consequences on which Dorna must bend over. For example, commercial rights, including those for television, will suffer a significant drop.
Dorna must think of a plan B
For this reason, Carmelo Ezpeleta, who has already explicitly stated that he hopes for the renewal of the Tavullia phenomenon for at least a year, has started to take precautions. He prepares countermeasures for the future, in order to be able to cushion, at least partially, the foreseeable drop in his company's income.
And, to do this, it will differentiate its investments beyond the world of engines, by turning to football. According to the indiscretions of the Spanish newspapers, Dorna would indeed be interested in repurchasing the FC Barcelone, which is currently going through a major financial crisis.
To support this operation there would be the president of the Spanish La Liga championship, Javier Tebas, a friend of Carmelo for many years, and also the commercial director of MotoGP, Manuel Arroyo, for a long time now the marketing director of the Catalan team. We would be there, and that shows the weight and the dimension that has taken Valentino Rossi in 26 seasons completed.
