During confinement, anecdotes abounded during interviews on social networks. Distilled by team managers, former drivers and those who are still in office, they shed particular light on past events which, sometimes, continue to shape the present. A movement which continues although we can now live in the great outdoors and, in ten days, Jerez will welcome the paddock to launch the MotoGP season. The proof with Sete Gibernau who remembers the Valentino Rossi of 2003, mentioning a very particular character trait…
Sete Gibernau also knew his hours of glory and they were experienced when he was piloting Honda. Then, things got a little worse... Among these good times, there was the year 2003, when he gave a certain Valentino Rossi, who rode in the official HRC team. The Spaniard was then in the Gresini satellite team, bruised by the disappearance of Daijiro Kato.
The competition was tough. Gibernau recalls a German Grand Prix where developments had arrived on the bike: “ we reached the Grand Prix with three wins for each and Honda brought special exhausts to Valentino Rossi to make the difference » begins the Spaniard on DAZN.
“The best in history is Marc Marquez”
« He didn't want them and someone at Honda decided to give them to me. In some test sessions we put them on and even though they made a lot of noise, I saw that they generated a lot of traction and cornering was better. After the race they went for testing and Valentino Rossi ended up using them all season ».
More Gibernau remembers especially the atmosphere generated by the Doctor: “ Rossi must generate hatred against the driver he is competing with ". And he knew something about it afterwards... A predisposition of mind which also puts the relationship with Marc Marquez. On the latter, Sete Gibernau also has a certainty: “ Marc Marquez is a phenomenon and in Spain, we don't realize it. For me, he is the best driver in history ". A final evaluation which will please as much Valentino Rossi that his first certainty about his character...
