Rossi declines Marquez handshake

AJV80 said:

The 'Marc vs Rossi' feud may attract more media attention but I personally find the 'Uccio vs Max' feud playing out in the Yamaha pit garage to be far more ruthless and interesting. There has always been bitter and savage rivalry amongst Rossi's friends as to which one will be selected as Rossi's 'No.1 best friend'. A title that earns you a 100% all financial expenses paid carefree life, as well as a front row seat to Rossi's life both professionally and personally. Amongst Rossi's friends Uccio has clearly dominated this area since childhood but behind the scene his position is always under constant threat from fierce competition.

After Uccio's post race performance in Argentina he received an official warning from Yamaha to curb his behaviour or face permanent expulsion. A blow that could seriously cripple his ability to remain top dog. The 'No.1 best friend' competition could smell blood and none more so than Max, Uccio's strongest and oldest rival. This was demonstrated clearly at the very beginning of the FP1 session. When analysing the footage its clear from Max's body language that he is asserting himself as the dominant friend for the media and camera's. Within seconds Uccio administers strong retaliation, drawing the cameras away from Max and almost removing him from frame completely, then delivering a cheeky 'thumbs up' to draw all attention in on himself ... Being Misano and home ground for both Uccio and Max I have a feeling this could get uglier than Sepang 2015.

Click to expand...

paparazzo said:

. If Vale ever shakes hands or trust this guy again, I stop watching.

Click to expand...

ratdeal said:

What a fascinating exhange. From a body language perspective I think MM here is very clever. Clearly this was an opportunity to assert his dominance upon VR in a public setting and a way to maintain the narrative that he is an unwilling participant in all this. He gave VR a cross to hang himself on and unfortunately VR grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Of particular interest is the way he offers the hand. Clearly there is no real effort here as he maintains a closed posture and only gestures at the shake. Upon the (obvious and sheepish) rejection he immediately shrugs as if to say "see, what can I do?!".

I think VR has been very naive here and upon watching it back will probably be aware of the powerplay by MM.

Very subtle and quite well done by Marc, a bit clumsy and not well managed by VR who was looking for any reason he could find to avoid the hand shake and MM didn't need to be a rocket scientist here to predict VR's response.

For all that think I'm seeing things here, I'd like to point out that you don't get to be a world champion at this level without being a very shrewd operator when it comes to interpersonal relationships. MM has 5 premier class wins and I would bet the house on him using every tool at his disposal to ensure his place at the top perch of the sport.

Click to expand...

Keshav said:

Was going to say the same but refrained not wanting to be accused of starting .... - especially when it's so quiet - this being when flame wars so easily get started.

Click to expand...

paparazzo said:

That little ....... has some nerve to offer his hand after Sepang 15, deliberate destroy Rossi championship even attempting to knock him off his bike with deliberate chopping across his front. Then Valencia right after where he refuse to pass Jorge and nearly crash Dani to prevent HIM from passing too. All this was orchestrate to screw Rossi and his championship. And this little prick want to shake hands? Wow. Talk about a 2 face ..... If Vale ever shakes hands or trust this guy again, I stop watching.

Click to expand...

Theo said:

I didn't watch the Thursday PR rubbish, seems to me its a slag fest as to who is top dog.
Having watched FP 1 and 2, even though the duc's came top Marc was easily the best rider out there and I imagine that will annoy Rossi. If Marc wins will we get more yellow idiots booing?

Click to expand...

AJV80 said:

The 'Marc vs Rossi' feud may attract more media attention but I personally find the 'Uccio vs Max' feud playing out in the Yamaha pit garage to be far more ruthless and interesting. There has always been bitter and savage rivalry amongst Rossi's friends as to which one will be selected as Rossi's 'No.1 best friend'. A title that earns you a 100% all financial expenses paid carefree life, as well as a front row seat to Rossi's life both professionally and personally. Amongst Rossi's friends Uccio has clearly dominated this area since childhood but behind the scene his position is always under constant threat from fierce competition.

After Uccio's post race performance in Argentina he received an official warning from Yamaha to curb his behaviour or face permanent expulsion. A blow that could seriously cripple his ability to remain top dog. The 'No.1 best friend' competition could smell blood and none more so than Max, Uccio's strongest and oldest rival. This was demonstrated clearly at the very beginning of the FP1 session. When analysing the footage its clear from Max's body language that he is asserting himself as the dominant friend for the media and camera's. Within seconds Uccio administers strong retaliation, drawing the cameras away from Max and almost removing him from frame completely, then delivering a cheeky 'thumbs up' to draw all attention in on himself ... Being Misano and home ground for both Uccio and Max I have a feeling this could get uglier than Sepang 2015.

Click to expand...

iNfRaSoNiC said:

Who is this guy Max?

Click to expand...

AJV80 said:

His full name is Max Montanari, he is also a childhood friend of Rossi's. Max has always been Uccio's strongest rival but he has never been able to come out on top (always the bridesmaid but never the bride). In the yellow circle there are strong rumours circulating that Max will replace Uccio for the 2019 and 2020 seasons when Uccio's contract expires.These rumours have created a huge division in the yellow camp, some are traditionalists and support Uccio but the larger majority acknowledge that it has always been Max that has truly loved Rossi.

https://twitter.com/montanarimax

Click to expand...

Gaz said:

Is it really that big an issue that VR did not shake MM's hand?

I mean really, it was nothing more that a PR stunt by the journalist to suggest that MM shake VR's hand afterall, and VR rejects so is now being pilloried and/or called a petulant child (and no doubt it looks like it).

it is not that long ago where VR himself tried a similar PR stunt to try to appease another rider and improve his public perception when he went to the pit of Stoner after he had knocked Stoner down, only to have his PR attempt fall flat when CS products the ambition outweigh talent comment.

Sure, to me he looks a petulant child but as someone who absolutely enjoyed CS' very public rebuff of the PR stunt, I am not going to be to critical although I do recognise (and kind of laugh at) his hypocrisy

Time, place .............. and a media conference when a journalist asks is not the time or place

Click to expand...

AJV80 said:

His full name is Max Montanari, he is also a childhood friend of Rossi's. Max has always been Uccio's strongest rival but he has never been able to come out on top (always the bridesmaid but never the bride). In the yellow circle there are strong rumours circulating that Max will replace Uccio for the 2019 and 2020 seasons when Uccio's contract expires.These rumours have created a huge division in the yellow camp, some are traditionalists and support Uccio but the larger majority acknowledge that it has always been Max that has truly loved Rossi.

https://twitter.com/montanarimax

Click to expand...

pyeman said:

Surely no one can hand out tissues and hold an ipad the way Uccio can??..and the way that dude is grabbing a handful of Rossi's arse is nauseating.

Click to expand...

AJV80 said:

They are just all very close and do things a little differently in that pit box, the gentle cupping of the anointed ones buttocks is just a gesture of endearment.

Click to expand...

paparazzo said:

That little ....... has some nerve to offer his hand after Sepang 15, deliberate destroy Rossi championship even attempting to knock him off his bike with deliberate chopping across his front. Then Valencia right after where he refuse to pass Jorge and nearly crash Dani to prevent HIM from passing too. All this was orchestrate to screw Rossi and his championship. And this little prick want to shake hands? Wow. Talk about a 2 face ..... If Vale ever shakes hands or trust this guy again, I stop watching.

Click to expand...

pyeman said:

I'm not so sure...it looks like nauseating man love to me.

Click to expand...