In a recent interview with the daily l'Equipe, Valentino Rossi expressed his blunt opinion on the arrival of Marc Marquez at Ducati and on the current situation of the MotoGP championship. The Italian, who shared an intense rivalry with the Spaniard, did not mince his words to criticize certain decisions of the Borgo Panigale brand.
The rivalry between Valentino Rossi et Marc Marquez, which reached its peak in 2015, continues to generate a lot of ink. In 2021, Red left the MotoGP, but the tensions between the two champions never really eased. The two drivers fought fierce duels on the track, but also off it, with tensions that sometimes went beyond the limits of the sport. Red still remembers the episodes which marked this rivalry, notably the incident of Sepang in 2015 but also that of Termas de Rio Hondo in 2018.
It is always with this state of mind that Valentino Rossi recently expressed his incomprehension regarding the decision to Ducati to promote Marc Marquez in the factory team, to the detriment of George Martin, the current leader of the MotoGP championship. “ Honestly, I didn't quite understand this story. Everything seemed decided for the arrival of Jorge Martin in the official team. In any case, Bagnaia is ready, he is a double MotoGP champion and this year he is fighting to win his third consecutive title in the premier category ", said Red.
Valentino Rossi: “ Ducati had put in place an interesting system, with a pyramid which allowed young riders to progress and dream »
According to Red, the failure of Martin to join the official team Ducati broke a well-established progression dynamic. “ Ducati had put in place an interesting system, with a pyramid which allowed young riders to progress while dreaming of one day joining the official team. Martin and Bezzecchi also hoped for it, but he decides to put Marc. It is normal for young drivers, loyal to the brand for years, to feel betrayed "He said.
Red recognizes, however, the merit of Ducati, particularly that of Gigi Dall'Igna, the chief engineer who transformed the brand into the undisputed leader. “ He's the one who makes the difference. He set the bar very high. Japanese structures are having difficulties. They are trying to fight back, but it will be difficult for them to become as competitive as in the past ", has explained Red.
Red reserved complimentary words for Pecco Bagnaia, his former protégé. “ On the one hand he surprised me because he does incredible things, but on the other hand I know Pecco well and I always believed him capable of evolving to reach this level. I never doubted his abilities », concluded the Doctor.
Valentino Rossi, despite his differences with Marquez, continues to closely follow developments in MotoGP. The declarations of Valentino Rossi show that the passion for motorcycling and the desire to defend the values of sport remain intact in the Italian rider, even after his retirement. His criticisms of Ducati and Marc Marquez testify to the depth of his rivalry with the Spaniard. However, Rossi also recognizes the talent of Pecco Bagnaia and salutes the work accomplished by Gigi Dall'Igna.
