Michael Scott’s MotoGP column
Back at Qatar, I started to think that Valentino Rossi, once the jewel in Yamaha’s crown, had become an increasingly awkward burden. In spite of his astonishing speed, and world-renowned charm.
The 39-year-old multi-champ superstar had just signed up until the end of 2020, into his 40s. Walking down pit lane, I bumped into an old pal who has worked with VR since he came to the premier class in 2000. “He’s starting to look like a bed-blocker,” I joked. The bristling response was immediate: “He’s a pretty fast bed-blocker.” Then Valentino was on the podium, and I felt slightly chastened.
But subsequent events seem to have rather borne me out. Valentino’s residency (along with a hard-to-understand twoyear renewal also for the off-form Maverick Viñales) had its biggest casualty last weekend. Yamaha lost Johann Zarco, the most promising new rider they’ve had in years. Understandably, the French double Moto2 champ thought himself worthy of a factory ride. Yamaha didn’t have one. They’d already also lost Tech3, also to KTM. The French squad has long played second fiddle to the factory, especially technically, as a place to get a few more miles out of superannuated bikes. Last year, their bitsas were better than the factory bikes. But their role as a feeder team had become redundant. Rossi’s overbearing influence was painfully clear in Argentina. As you’ll recall, Marquez made an overambitious overtake, and bumped Rossi off. Surprisingly, in fact. Rossi was surely aware of Marquez’s approach, and knows his reputation. When Marquez has made similar moves on Dovizioso, Dovi gave him enough room to outbrake himself, and zipped back past on the exit. Three times.
After the race, Marquez and Honda team manager Alberto Puig strode straight to the Yamaha pit to apologise. They were promptly and firmly told to… well, “go away”, though not so politely, by Rossi’s right-hand-man Uccio Salucci. But where was Yamaha team manager Lin Jarvis? He took a back seat. Many might think correct protocol would have been for him at least to exchange words with Puig. But Rossi is too important. He’s too popular. He is bigger than the team, and in many ways bigger than the sport.
This cannot be a very comfortable position for a classic Japanese factory. Worse still, imagine the opprobrium if they dumped him.
‘Rossi is too important. He’s too popular’