What would you do, if one of your riders would need to battle a multiple world champion, for two seasons in a row, on probably the best bike on the grid, and your other rider finishing his two year long contract the same time as said world champion?
I read this in grumpy old man voice, and loved the rant. Thanks MM
as I also recall.
To paraphrase what Alan Jones once said to Evan Green, which is admittedly revealing in regard to my age, I am only grumpy with those who make me so. If Valentino who is very definitely younger than me is going to continue his grumpy old man schtick I see no reason to refrain myself.
More neutral parties, and indeed pretty much anyone other than Valentino, are entitled to their opinions in my own opinion. I can’t think of anyone who would approach being as hypocritical as he is in having such an opinion.Nothing like a Rossi quote to rile the hormones up
He didn’t say anything that others haven’t said already. It’s a matter of fact that Ducati corse under Ciabatti had a youth over experience policy- There were even rumors of Ducati making a Moto3 machine to have full control over the talent pipeline like KTM does- which apparently isn’t Grasilli’s top priority.
Whether it works out for them is for time to decide, but it is also a matter of fact that 3 of the young talents Ducati nurtured through their development pipeline (They even fought hard to free Martin from the clutches of KTM which included a payment to release him from the contract) have left for pastures anew; and potentially sowing some unrest in what was until now a cordial environment within the Lenovo box.
Then again, Ducati has a long history of pissing off almost every top talent who has ridden for them; so this is hardly surprising.
I mean, hats off the M. Marquez for landing the deal of the decade for himself; but Rossi’s point on this matter has been voiced by much more neutral voices in the industry and is nothing new IMO.
I did read that post and I am fully familiar with the events of the past mentioned therein, but the point of contention is not whether Marquez deserves the seat (He arguably does) or whether Yamaha has a youth over experience policy (They didn’t and never claimed to have one); but whether Ducati has changed their rider pipeline strategy compared to the past- which they have.
Pecco has said he wanted Bastianini, and before that, Miller.
I can still remember a time when a rider was signed to make the difference on a bike.
I think he will do some great things on the Aprilia too.
I think he is doing great this year, that he got the 2025 deal because someone believes his best is yet to come. If he has a great 2025 on the GP25 I'm thinking he could end up on one of the two factory team bikes at some point afterwards.
If Pecco aspires to be seen as the greatest of all time then winning a world championship on equal footing with Marc would contribute greatly to that informal title. Not suggesting hat Pecco has thought about that
Digi probably just needed time to adapt. It's the problem of so many talented riders, so few seats. Also the nature of prototype racing. I figure at any given time there's a whole grid's worth of riders who are good enough to be in MotoGP, but can't find a ride. Not future champions, but people who wouldn't embarrass themselves given a few test days and a few weekends to adapt. Even within the field, how many riders get a current-year bike, or full factory support, or get to ride the best bike? Most riders do not get the chance or the support to show their full potential. Frustrating when others seem to coast for years on the strength of past potential and connections (cough Morbidelli cough). So it goes.
Yeh a new rider needs 2 years to show their potential
A Ducati ride of any description has offered more riders a chance to show their wares than has traditionally been the case in recent years but I totally agree. If Casey Stoner had not rather serendipitously gotten the Ducati ride at a time the bike was capable of winning if you could ride the thing and had not been perhaps uniquely capable of riding it he may well have had an also ran career riding on third rate /non SNS michelins.
I agree and was about to say the same thing.
