Most of us will remember with some degree of humour, the absurd situation when Valentino Rossi spat the dummy with Michelin and signed with Bridgestone mid-season in 2008. To ensure that his team-mate, Jorge Lorenzo, did not get any access to his pit and his settings, Rossi, always ensuring that the team was built around him, had the Yamaha people build a wall down the middle of the pits, completely dividing off the two halves of the garage.
Now Rossi has a history of ensuring that his team never hires anyone who is likely to be a big threat to his dominance and many saw the tyre excuse as just a cover for the fact that Rossi was feeling that his #1 position was under threat from the brash Spaniard. Remember that, were it not for a few unforced errors (read: “crashes”), Lorenzo would have been a threat to Rossi’s 2008 title.
Come 2009 and both riders are on the same, control, Bridgestone rubber, but did “The Wall” come down?? Unsurprisingly, no. So, did it do any good leaving it there? Unsurprisingly again, no. And Lorenzo again proved to be Rossi’s biggest threat and, were it not for a few unforced errors (read: “crashes”) he could have easily lifted the title.
Granted Rossi put him in his box when it really mattered (Catalunya), but, now that the season is over Rossi is sabre-rattling about Lorenzo’s status within the team, even going as far as saying that, if Yamaha didn’t do something to ensure that he had #1 status (I actually never thought that his position was in doubt..), he “had offers at Ducati”
Derision followed quickly, as it rightfully should have. Let’s not forget that this a 30 year old, hardened veteran of the grand prix circus whose position in the pantheon of not only presently competing riders but riders from all time, has widely seen him referred to as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), an assessment with which I completely agree. To see him behaving like a petulant child, whining because someone is about to steal his lolly or not sharing his toys in the sand pit brought no credit upon him at all.
Now, Rossi quickly backed off the “Ducati” statement but not before it had spawned thousands of threads on thousands of motorcycle forums all over the world filled with millions of words all of which added up to informed ignorance, as most motorcycle forums do. The intoxicatiing prospect of the greatest Italian rider of all time riding an Italian bike completely blinded most observers.
So, what WAS he trying to do? Both he and Lorenzo are contracted till the end of 2010 so there’s nothing to be gained in that area. Everyone knows he’s the #1 rider, so nothing’s going to change there.
To be honest, I can’t quite figure out what the outburst was about. I can’t see how Yamaha could have treated him any better than they have, and I can’t see how they can do anything more for him in 2010 than they have done for him since he joined the team. Even if Yamaha were to consider promoting Lorenzo over Rossi for 2011 (a laughable prospect in my opinion) Rossi has enough clout to ensure that that will never happen.
A much more likely scenario is for Rossi to serve out his career at Yamaha (something he has said on many occasions that he intends to do), tough it out with Lorenzo in 2010 and for Lorenzo to go to Ducati in 2011 to replace the unspectacular Nicky Hayden.
In the mean time, don’t expect to see “The Wall” fall any time soon. 🙂
sanoptic says
Rossi is a typical Alfa male who is no different to other high achieves who will do practically
anything to stay in that position.
I think the behind the scenes drama is much more interesting than the on track activities.
Love to be a fly on the wall when Rossi has a bad race & Lorenzo beats him ,lots of Italian swearing i bet.
cheers