Who is the greatest MotoGP rider of the modern era: Valentino Rossi or Marc Marquez? It's a question that has fueled heated debate for over a decade. And now, a former direct participant in that golden era, Andrea Iannone, offers his straightforward answer.
In a recent interview with the Italian media Motosprint, Iannone, now 35, delved into his memories of the most intense period of MotoGP.
From the 2000s to the mid-2010s, the championship MotoGP experienced a blessed period, dominated by legendary figures. Valentino Rossi reigned supreme, marking the transition from the 500cc era to that of modern MotoGP. Around him gravitated a generation of prodigies: Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, nicknamed, with the Doctor, "The Fantastic Four" as they seemed to be playing in another dimension.
Then, in 2013, a certain Marc Marquez burst onto the scene. A gifted rookie, he immediately captured the world title in his first season, outclassing established champions like Rossi, Lorenzo ou PedrosaHis spectacular and aggressive style redefined the limits of MotoGP riding.
It was in this same year that Iannone, then rookie at Bow Ducati, found himself on the grid alongside these titans of the sport.
Andrea Iannone cuts between the giants
Asked about his former rivals, Iannone delivered his personal ranking: “ Dani Pedrosa was faster than Andrea Dovizioso in my opinion. There can be no comparison between Pedrosa and Bagnaia, as they are two very different generations. Between Lorenzo and Stoner, I say Lorenzo. Whereas in comparison with Rossi, I choose Rossi. Between Marquez and Rossi? Marquez »
In a word, Andrea Iannone place Marc Marquez above Valentino Rossi, a position that will not fail to fuel debates in the paddock and among the fans.
The career ofAndrea Iannone in MotoGP has oscillated between flashes of genius and controversies. After two seasons at Bow Ducati, he joins the official team Ducati in 2015, where he cohabits with difficulty with Andrea DoviziosoTheir relationship deteriorated after a famous collision at the Argentine Grand Prix.
« Maybe it's me who doesn't like someone, like Andrea Dovizioso, probably after the accident in Argentina, when I hit him. Even though, on that occasion, he braked earlier than he should have, the telemetry showed it ", entrusts Iannone.
In 2017, he signed with Suzuki before joining Aprilia in 2019. But his trajectory was abruptly halted: he tested positive for drostanolone, an anabolic steroid, and was given a four-year suspension. Iannone claims the substance came from contaminated meat consumed in Malaysia, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the World Anti-Doping Agency upheld the sanction, ending his career at the end of 2020.
After five years of absence, Iannone made a symbolic return to MotoGP at the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix, ironically at the same circuit where he last raced before his suspension. Called in to replace Fabio Di Giannantonio injured within the VR46 Racing team of Valentino Rossi, he finished 17th. Modest in the ranking, but monumental on a personal level.
« I have a good relationship with Valentino Rossi. I've had the occasional ride to his ranch. But I've always had good relationships with everyone. He concludes.
While Rossi et Marquez continue to divide fans, the voice of a driver who crossed their paths on the track provides valuable insight. Andrea Iannone, the largest remainder Marc MarquezAnd the debate is far from over.
