MotoGP / Rossi: "Lorenzo and I like Hamilton-Rosberg"

At the end of 2021 Valentino Rossi he chose to leave MotoGP permanently, after an endless career on two wheels that led him to win nine world titles, writing memorable pages in the history of this sport. The Doctor’s only regret may perhaps be that he was unable to conquer the tenth World Championship, which he touched on more than one occasion and never as much as in the controversial 2015 season, when it was the Doctor’s Yamaha box mate who finally prevailed. Jorge Lorenzo. The rivalry between the two marked an era and was perhaps the most intense of Rossi’s career, at least for the duration and quality of the opponent, who remains the only one to have beaten Rossi in a race for the title with an equal half in top-class.

During an interview with Graham Bensinger for his broadcast ‘In Depth With Graham Bensinger‘, the # 46 compared his duality with the Spanish champion to that seen in F1 between Hamilton and Rosberg behind the wheel of the Mercedes. “The rivalry between me and Lorenzo was quite similar to theirs. They were more friends, because they had competed in karts together. But there are many similarities: two top drivers, in the best team, with the best vehicle. The problem is that you are fighting for the same goal. There is a time when paths cross. Not having a fight is very difficult “Rossi pointed out.

“The worst part came in Barcelona in 2009 – revealed the Italian centaur, recalling one of his most famous successes – when I managed to beat him at the last corner, on the last lap. Also in the team there started to be some problems, because my side was celebrating a lot for the victory, while the other side was very angry. In 2008 I was angry with the team because they wanted to put together two top riders. I had brought the team back to success after 20 years and I thought I deserved a driver who was a little less strong than me. I felt that the team was pushing more for Lorenzo, so I decided to change. At the beginning of 2012 I tried to return to Yamaha, but they told me it wasn’t possible. I thought I had to stop – Rossi admitted again, surprisingly – then luckily after three or four months things changed “ .