For two decades, Valentino Rossi was the undisputed boss of the MotoGP paddock. But at the end of his career, the Doctor found himself facing off against... his own students. A unique, explosive, and sometimes even uncomfortable situation.
Francesco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli, Luca Marini, Marco Bezzecchi : all have gone through it VR46 Riders Academy, the nursery founded by Rossi after the tragedy of Marco SimoncelliThe original goal was noble: to nurture the next generation of Italians. But the dream ran into a much more piquant reality on the track.
« I put myself in this situation. I trained my future rivals. ", Rossi admitted in 2020. With Franco MorbidelliRossi shares a true friendship off the track. But in the race? That's another story.
« On the track, with Franco, it's more intense. More tense. It depends on each person's personality. I have a different relationship with Pecco Bagnaia. With Pecco, we get along better. " Rossi told GPOne.
The key moment for Rossi ? Austria 2020. A spectacular fall in Morbidely saw his motorcycle brush against the head of Rossi at full speed. A shocking scene, which marked a psychological turning point. That day, Rossi wavered, and retreat began to seem like a given.
Valentino Rossi: “ I was very sad that day. It was over »
A year later, at the British Grand Prix, Rossi is experiencing a real heartbreak. He, who had shone so brightly at Silverstone, finds himself far from the pack. It's the last straw. Legend or not, sport no longer forgives.
Pecco Bagnaia, the model student, won the titles MotoGP 2022 and 2023. He is today the only driver of the VR46 Academy to have transformed the master's legacy into true domination.
But 2025 is tough. Third in the championship, struggling at Ducati, bagnaia shows signs of doubt. The mentor's shadow still looms. And the pressure no longer comes from Rossi, but of the story itself: to confirm that he is not just a product of the academy, but a real boss.
Rossi wanted to create a dynasty. He did. But he also accelerated his own sporting end, facing hungry youngsters he himself trained. The mentor smiles. But in his eyes, there remains a glimmer of fire. Even in retirement, Rossi hates losing.
