Five races remain in the 2015 MotoGP season. Five races standing between Valentino Rossi and a remarkable 10th World Motorcycle Championship, and an eighth in the premier Grand Prix class.
Rossi leads the championship by 23 points from Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, with reigning champ Marc Marquez a long shot in third place following a string of retirements in 2015.
Many questioned whether Rossi, now 36 years of age, had another championship in him given the rise of the likes of Marquez and Lorenzo, and Rossi’s own title drought stretching back to 2009.
It seemed that Rossi’s time had come and gone and he simply couldn’t compete anymore, given his unsuccessful stint at Ducati and inability to match the pace of Lorenzo on the same bike.
Yet Rossi has been reborn under new engineer Silvano Galbusera, who replaced long-time crew chief Jeremy Burgess, winning more races so far this season than in the last four.
Can he win it in 2015? Marquez should be in the mix to win a few races, taking points away from Lorenzo and helping Rossi maintain that gap. Rossi had finished on the podium in every race before his fifth place at Misano last weekend, so even if he doesn’t have the outright pace of Marquez or Lorenzo, he has the consistency to wrap it up.
If, for example, Marquez wins the remaining five races, Rossi can shadow Lorenzo in third place and still claim the championship. Let’s not forget, too, that there are some Rossi-friendly circuits remaining on the calendar, including the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, where the Italian won last season.
Rossi’s second coming undoubtedly helps his case for greatest motorcycle racer of all-time status. An eighth MotoGP world championship would draw him level with Giacomo Agostini for the most premier class titles.
And though he would still be behind Agostini and Ángel Nieto in terms of total championships across all classes, they raced in an era when riders competed in more than one category in the same season.
Rossi is without doubt in the mix of the greatest of all-time debate. Even though the risk factor was so much higher in the Agostini era, the competition is far greater in the modern era.
Perhaps most impressive in the rejuvenation of Rossi is his age relative to his rivals; 14 years older than Marquez, a longevity that’s remarkable in a sport where injuries are so common.
The next event on the calendar could be decisive for Rossi, the Aragon Grand Prix, and another home event for Marquez and Lorenzo. Rossi is yet to win at the circuit, with a win apiece for the Spaniards.
If he can limit the damage with a podium and bank some solid points before flyaway races in Japan, Australia and Malaysia, the 10th title will be looking more secure by the time they head to the season finale in Valencia.
An unlikely title that will add so much to Rossi’s legend.
Blazin
Guest
Rossi is already the G.O.A.T. That's why Colin Edwards said he is...in the first place. No discussion. Period!
Scotty
Guest
Impossible to judge. People seem to have forgotten Geoff Duke, Redman. And Hailwood, after years out of the game to come back and win the TT on an underpowered bike - that was epic. I say Rossi is the GOAT of MotoGP era. Doohan of the post TT - MotoGP era. And the previous era is a toss up between Ago, Haillwood, Duke and Redman. Oh yeah and Joseph Patrick Dunlop was bloody awesome on the roads.
Kel worley
Guest
comparisons very difficult rossi not taking anything away from him.. how could you? did not have to endure a savage climb to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing say like mick doohan had to mick was almost a cripple before he won a title then made it five in a row on the meanest two strokes with plenty of competion.heaps of crap bikes before that crap dangerous tracks. look at casey stoner is he the only man to master the ducati.bayliss won a gp on one.the gentler beginings add to the longevity of the career.marques should go on to destroy all records if he does not hurt himself if the bikes not good enough you cant win.
Kel worley
Guest
This is it
Fabio
Guest
I wonder what the doctors stats would have been if he did not go to Ducati, i think it may have cost him at least 5 wins over 2 season, minimum.
vrfansince97
Guest
Is there any doubt? I mean what else would you need. 86 wins in top class to Ago's 68 Hailwood won from 62 to 65 championships with 8,8,9 and 10 races TOTAL, of them he won 27 out of 36 with the MV sure it was risky but where was the opposition. Ago same story championships averaging 11 races in total, most of them with the MV most of them wins, what happened when Phil Read had an MV too? he went to Yamaha. I've seen them all since Doohan and some videos from before that. Who changed Bike maker to proof it wasn't the Bike? Rossi no one else, more than 19 years winning, 15 consecutive championships with at least one win. Now at 36 racing Marc and Lorenzo, should he win the 10th I don't see how can you doubt it. He has broken, Biaggi, Gibernau, Stoner, Lorenzo and he would do that to Marc given time and health. 36 years old, have you seen superbike top riders in their first motogp race, they crash or retire out of lack of fitness get your hands on those front brakes after reaching 350 and there to keep squeezing them until you slow enough to turn, now do that every lap on almost every track of the current championship. I would call anyone denying Rossi the GOAT status a cynic. No add the out of track candid presence, he will sign anything, he will hug anyone he is inside as a person as he looks out there. just don't confuse that to the racer on the track, no one is hungrier and of all of them past and present only Doohan and Marquez do come closer when it comes to put what it is needed to win.
Oz
Guest
For me, Rossi is a true Legend and the GOAT. He won the 500cc 2 stroke bike, change to 4 stroke 990cc, 800cc, and 1000cc. and now he is chasing his 10th World Championship title at 36 years old....36 years old !!! His ability to change and adjust his riding style is also one of the greatest achievement, and he has done it very very well.
Paul
Guest
In no particular order: Rossi. Hailwood. Roberts. Doohan. Rainey. That would be my top five. Ago had limited competition for a lot of his career.
Guy murray
Guest
Has got to hasn't it
Ii1977
Guest
I am too young to having experienced the era of Ago unfortunately. But I have started watching MotoGP some 15 years ago I guess. To me Rossi already is the G.O.A.T he has always be there always been hungry and still at his Age willing and able to change his style and adapt to new bikes and techniques. And what a charcater he is and what races he brought to all of us. During Weekends when there are no races I love to watch all his legends fights with Biaggi, Gibernau and Lorenzo - it is just amazing. He simply must win this title :-) I mean it feels like even fans of Lorenzo like my boyfriend still say it would be huge if Rossi would win this one. He is just someone you cannot be not supporting somehow - unless maybe your Name is Max Biaggi. And even if he doesn't win - he is a legend. And that after Ducati and at his age he is still able to fight the Championship with so much fun and hunger makes him a truely great one.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
This reminds me a little of a piece I penned earlier in the year titled Year of the G.O.A.T, haha. Just the fact that Rossi still has that presence on track when he's dialed in, shows you that he is above the competition. On nearly every occasion he and Marquez have gone head-to-head, it's the Spaniard that has been broken; an ability Rossi exercised always against the likes of Biaggi and co. If only he can get his head around the new qualifying format, he could be leading more races. Nevertheless, it's going to be an exciting end to this championship!
SM
Guest
Surprised not to see Hailwood mentioned anywhere. Whether two or four wheels, motor sport is one arena where a competitor cannot be judged solely on titles won. There are too many variables at play across different eras.
DT
Guest
Always hard to compare from different eras. Ago is many people's pick, but how did the level of competition compare in his time? How many riders had a bike as good as his? I'd say not many. These days the Honda, Yamaha and Ducati bikes are all capable of winning races. The sport's a lot more technical these days, too. So many aspects of set up to be across, this is a special skill in itself (and obviously a good engineer helps). I didn't think Rossi had a chance in hell of winning another title after Marquez won his 2nd last year. The Honda is a good bike and Marquez is a supremely skilled rider. But the 2015 chassis didn't work for him, and he's made some big mistakes. Rossi's experience has played a big role this year. Lorenzo won four in a row and it seemed like he'd go all the way, but then he messed up last week, and at Silverstone, while Rossi rode to the conditions and knew when to push. He is without doubt the best I've seen since the early 1980s, and I think world titles in all 3 classes over a long career put him right at the top of the tree.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I havent watched MotoGP in some years but I remember it was frustrating seeing Rossi bomb start after start....but then i remember the excitement of seeing him cut through the pack to win. His ability to pass his way back to the front was like no one I had seen before. Legend!
Mark Frumkin
Guest
No, but it puts him damn near.