Ahead of the second MotoGP weekend at Misano, Marc Marquez is reacting to Valentino Rossi’s latest statements – drivers strongly condemn booing.
Valentino Rossi’s comments in the podcast “Mig Babol”, in which he rehashed his feud with Marc Marquez and renewed old accusations, have caused quite a stir in recent days. It was clear that they would also be discussed before the second MotoGP weekend in Misano.
Marquez himself was asked about it several times on Thursday. His reaction was clear and unequivocal. “At the moment, I have much more important things on my mind than answering another driver,” said the Gresini Ducati rider in an interview with Spanish media, and added: “If that didn’t bother me in 2016 and 2017, it won’t bother me now either.”
“If it didn’t bother me in 2016 and 2017, it won’t bother me now,” Marquez insisted, refusing to engage in any further discussion on a topic he has long since put behind him.
We recall that in 2015, the rivalry between the Spaniard and Rossi escalated, with the two clashing in several Grands Prix. Rossi eventually suspected a conspiracy against him and insinuated that Marquez was racing for Jorge Lorenzo so that he, and not Rossi, would win the world title.
Francesco Bagnaia, Rossi’s protégé and Marquez’s future teammate at Ducati, was also asked on Thursday about his opinion on his mentor’s comments, but made it clear: “I’m out of it on this topic.”
“When all this happened, I wasn’t racing MotoGP. I don’t want to get involved. It’s not something I’m interested in,” said the reigning world champion.
MotoGP riders condemn booing in Misano
However, not everyone is taking a relaxed approach to the issue. This became clear at the last race weekend in Misano, when Marquez – practically on Rossi’s doorstep – won Sunday’s race and was booed on the podium.
“Of course the fans support their favorite driver. But in sports, if you support one driver, you should just leave the other one alone. It’s unnecessary to boo him,“ says Marquez. ‘I also want to thank Pecco.’ Because he encouraged the fans on the podium to stop.
”I didn’t even realize that he was trying to calm the people down a bit,” admits Marquez. “I still enjoyed it, but I understood it at the time and therefore held back a little to give Bastianini and Pecco, who are the local riders here, their moment.”
Bagnaia emphasizes in this context: ”It’s just disrespectful, because we give our all every time. It’s also something I just don’t understand.“
Bagnaia: ‘I’ve been booed too’
”I read in an interview that this only happens in Italy. But that’s not true. I’ve also been booed in Barcelona when I won there. If you do your best to do as well as possible and people boo you, it’s just very disrespectful.“
”But unfortunately it happens again and again in sport. It would be nice if it were different for us. However, it is difficult to stop it,” believes Bagnaia, who has nevertheless sent an important signal for more tolerance with his gesture.
Enea Bastianini, who experienced the booing at first hand, also hopes for more tolerance. ”It’s not an easy situation. It’s not nice to hear that on the podium. I hope it will improve in the future. It’s just not nice. It’s important to show respect. It should always come first,” he says.
Jorge Martin has a similar view: ”I wasn’t on the podium, so I didn’t see it. But we always give 100 percent on the track and risk our lives. We could die out there. That’s why there should be more respect. There is no point in booing.”
It remains to be seen whether the riders’ words will be heard by the fans in question when MotoGP visits Misano for the second consecutive weekend this weekend.