Valentino Rossi’s success has been built not only on an incredible natural ability in riding a grand prix motorbike, but also in playing psychological games to get in the head of his opponents.
During his early reign, Rossi bullied main rivals Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau on and off the track, depriving both riders of a MotoGP title and crushing them so comprehensively that their grand prix careers ended prematurely.
The next generation weren’t as intimated by Rossi, especially when his five-year run of championships came to an end in 2006. Casey Stoner defeated Rossi to the title in 2007, while Jorge Lorenzo’s rise forced Rossi to move to Ducati in what would be a bleak two-year stint at the Italian manufacturer.
Even when Rossi returned to Yamaha, it seemed as though he wouldn’t be adding to his tally of seven MotoGP championships. Lorenzo looked to have his measure within his own team, while new sensation Marc Marquez’s arrival seemed to be a definitive generational change that made Rossi look old and slow.
So six years from his most recent title, Rossi’s desperation to get back on top led to the dramatic shunting of Marquez as the duo battled it out for third place in the Malaysian Grand Prix over the weekend.
Rossi had targeted Marquez in the pre-event press conference, accusing the reigning champion of deliberately holding him up at Phillip Island and assisting his countryman Lorenzo in the title battle. So close to a return to the top, Rossi resorted to tactics that had worked so well in the past.
When Rossi ruled supreme, his rivals seemed to quiver in their boots at his manipulation. But Marquez, riding for his own manufacturer and facing up to losing his first MotoGP championship, was never going to accept Rossi’s stings.
Marquez rode out of his skin to keep Rossi at bay. No doubt there was gamesmanship involved, but Marquez had no reason to help Rossi. And Rossi’s pre-event baiting wasn’t going to rile a rider 14 years his junior and with two MotoGP championships from his first two attempts.
Rossi lost his head and eventually cracked when he kicked Marquez off his bike. It was the built up frustration of seeing what could be his last shot at another championship slip away, because the new generation wasn’t as intimated of him as their predecessors.
Rossi now faces a monumental battle at the season finale in Valencia, where he has been relegated to the back of the grid for his misdemeanor and with Lorenzo in the box seat to snatch the title at the final hurdle.
Rossi will not only have lost the 2015 championship but also the respect of many MotoGP fans. He always seemed to craftily avoid any backlash for his psychological mind games in the past, but there could be no hiding the professional foul on Marquez.
All the greats have that dark side, a win at all costs mentality that comes out in the decisive moments; think Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and many more.
Former MotoGP racer Marco Melandri once said that Rossi is your friend until you beat him. Marquez found that out the hard way, as Rossi battles to accept the loss of his dominance.
Phil
Guest
Rossi record stands as one of the all time greats; unfortunately he has a history of t boning Gibernau Melandri Stoner etc He is no angel and it’s funny that he has become a whinger as his talent deteriorates Should have had the grace to retire after he failed at Ducati
Cgs
Guest
Back brake
Joan
Guest
But it isn't NASCAR is it?
Dale D
Guest
Prost definitely played games. They were hidden from the public though, were political, and involved his fellow Frenchman Jean-Marie Balestre who just happened to be the head of FISA (FIA). Remember the crash at Casino Chicane? Japan '89?
DT
Guest
You can't kick a brake lever. They have guards on them
nordster
Guest
The dark side is an asset in competitive sport ...Rossi has it like the greats. Unfortunately something that is being sanitised out of sport a little too much.... :)
Trent Price
Roar Guru
There's a lot of 'horse before the cart' prognosis going on here which has evolved beyond the incident itself. Just waiting for the 'I Saw Rossi Dancing with the Devil' hardback to come out.
Borisorft
Guest
Great article, and I say that as a Rossi fan. Although I must take issue with Prost being included with Senna and Schumacher, he was no angel but I don't recall him resorting to those kinds of dirty tricks.
restoman.mc
Guest
Marquez was indeed asking for it ! you can see he stood the bike up then layed it over into Rossi rather than just safely running off track at the corner. lt is very unsportsmanlike to interfere with a World Championship when you aren't in the battle. as a NASCAR driver said earlier. Marquez would had been 'run into the wall' if he had tried it over there.!.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
I can only assume you're linking this video to back up my point, because, again, you cannot conclude from the video that Rossi deliberately kicked Marquez off the bike — in fact this video shows Marquez's head on Rossi's knee, which back's up what Valentino said.
ben
Guest
@Frank R - boo ha ha another has been never was. That dude was not taken out, he accelerated into Rossi, and if you don't think so after seeing that footage, you've never been on a bike.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Rossi is a dog. He has form. Took out Stoner at Jerez in 2011, Laguna Seca 2008. He can't handle it when someone is faster than him. Stoner saw him for what he was.
Joshil
Guest
@Chump: You could not see what you don't want to. As per Marc93 Rossi kicked his break lever and made him crash, see your video and calculate where was the break lever when Marc93 started to crash. His handle was well ahead of Rossi's foot. And Marc's helmet and shoulder touching Rossi's knee before the foot movement.
Chump
Guest
@Michael : https://youtu.be/3wTwy0zunxo
Farqueue
Guest
Rossi has been in many clashes on the track over the years and its the other guy who always crashes out. He is a smart rider. Casey was the first guy to really beat his invincibility, even when Rossi was at his fastest, Casey was quicker. The moto gp has been great this year ,makes all the other motor sports look boring. And good to see an article on roar about it.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
There's no way Rossi kicked Marquez off his bike. He was at fault, sure, but there's no definitive evidence that he kicked Marquez — far more likely is what the race director said afterwards, which is that Marquez was caught off guard by Rossi running him out of room. Rossi forced the accident, but he didn't deliberately punt him.
Mick R
Guest
Good article, and concur with what this is saying. Marquez as asking for it though!