Well, sorry for the catch in the title, but it seemed the only nice formula which would not hurt feelings. Instead of names and stuff, it seemed more appropriate and even funnier to put an I in there, but what follows might make some guys frown. Basically, it’s the question why Rossi and Marquez aren’t yet inducted into the MotoGP Legends hall of fame that puzzles me.
far we have 21 Legends, from the days of the black and white photos to the almost present time. Still, two of the most spectacular and successful riders of modern days are still left outside. The purpose of this editorial is not to seek reparations and neither are these words aimed at spreading hate or discontent. But still, the question needs answers.
Someone told me that a rider has to stop riding in order to be appointed as a MotoGP Legend. While I didn’t bother to check this out (and now I feel kind of sorry to have not done so), official MotoGP sources say that the first Legend was appointed in 2000. That is, Mick Doohan, the very next year after a new crash and multiple leg fractures convinced him it was time to hang those racing leathers.
Since then, 20 more names have been added to the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame, both riders from the “vintage” era and modern heroes, such as Casey Stoner or the late Marco Simoncelli. Honestly, if the main rule which keeps the FIM from adding illustrious riders to the Legends’ ranks is the very fact that they are still racing… then this sounds like a silly restriction.
I mean, more than one riders whose name was used to baptize a corner or section of a circuit was still in business at that time. This almost sounds like “you’re not exactly a legend, but here’s something to comfort you,” which in itself, is anyway infinitely more than most of other riders could hope for.
Having a circuit manager choosing your name for a portion of the track already means you’re in the sport’s history books, more or less, and is a glorious feat. But how about being truly stellar, breaking records by the dozen, being a guy the entire world looks up to and still having to wait for the day when you retire to be acknowledged as an effing living legend?
It may sound a bit rough to some ears, but Rossi and Marc Marquez ARE living legends. Rossi has won no less than 9 world titles across all classes. Seven of these are in the 500GP/MotoGP class, and if he can make it one more time above the rest, he will equal the premier class record currently held by Giacomo Agostini. It will be impossible for Rossi to add some more world titles to reach Ago’s 15 crowns, but yet again, the Doctor’s racing statistics are insane.
As for Marc Marquez, you probably know most of the records he broke in his still-short career. It would be absolutely no point in copy-pasting the lengthy list here, but a quick Google search will provide you with more info than you can safely handle. Suffice it to say that his world title count has reached figure 4, with an almost perfect streak across all the GP categories. If it hadn’t been for Stefan Bradl in 2011, Marquez would have had 4 back-to-back world titles.
MM93 is the youngest MotoGP world champion ever, and with only 2 seasons spent in the premier class, he already became the first rider in the history of the sport to win 13 races in a season. Likewise, he is the first and only rider to take 13 poles in a single MotoGP season, and the list can go on almost indefinitely. In fact, his exceptional 2014 brought him countless accolades, judging by almost any measurable and race-related variable one could think of.
Seriously, it’s hard to think that someone would take a look at the MotoGP hall of fame and tell me these two fellows aren’t already legendary. I admit that we are now in an era dominated by an avalanche of information and we are literally bombarded with huge amount of high-performance sports action. At times, we may fail to see the extraordinary in extraordinary things, but in this particular case everything comes down to a single sport and it’s the very FIM statistics which tell the story.
Do Rossi or Marquez have to stop riding (for whatever reasons) in order to gain official recognition and a MotoGP Legend plaque? If the answer is “yes,” then maybe the FIM could do well and review the “how to become a MotoGP Legend rules book.”
I am not telling them how to run their business, I am only showing them the crude facts. I know the age of magic and dragons is gone, and the material daily reality might make it hard for some to spot and embrace a legend when they see one. But waiting for a legendary rider to call it quits or die before you can call him so sounds wrong.
Someone told me that a rider has to stop riding in order to be appointed as a MotoGP Legend. While I didn’t bother to check this out (and now I feel kind of sorry to have not done so), official MotoGP sources say that the first Legend was appointed in 2000. That is, Mick Doohan, the very next year after a new crash and multiple leg fractures convinced him it was time to hang those racing leathers.
Since then, 20 more names have been added to the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame, both riders from the “vintage” era and modern heroes, such as Casey Stoner or the late Marco Simoncelli. Honestly, if the main rule which keeps the FIM from adding illustrious riders to the Legends’ ranks is the very fact that they are still racing… then this sounds like a silly restriction.
I mean, more than one riders whose name was used to baptize a corner or section of a circuit was still in business at that time. This almost sounds like “you’re not exactly a legend, but here’s something to comfort you,” which in itself, is anyway infinitely more than most of other riders could hope for.
Having a circuit manager choosing your name for a portion of the track already means you’re in the sport’s history books, more or less, and is a glorious feat. But how about being truly stellar, breaking records by the dozen, being a guy the entire world looks up to and still having to wait for the day when you retire to be acknowledged as an effing living legend?
It may sound a bit rough to some ears, but Rossi and Marc Marquez ARE living legends. Rossi has won no less than 9 world titles across all classes. Seven of these are in the 500GP/MotoGP class, and if he can make it one more time above the rest, he will equal the premier class record currently held by Giacomo Agostini. It will be impossible for Rossi to add some more world titles to reach Ago’s 15 crowns, but yet again, the Doctor’s racing statistics are insane.
As for Marc Marquez, you probably know most of the records he broke in his still-short career. It would be absolutely no point in copy-pasting the lengthy list here, but a quick Google search will provide you with more info than you can safely handle. Suffice it to say that his world title count has reached figure 4, with an almost perfect streak across all the GP categories. If it hadn’t been for Stefan Bradl in 2011, Marquez would have had 4 back-to-back world titles.
MM93 is the youngest MotoGP world champion ever, and with only 2 seasons spent in the premier class, he already became the first rider in the history of the sport to win 13 races in a season. Likewise, he is the first and only rider to take 13 poles in a single MotoGP season, and the list can go on almost indefinitely. In fact, his exceptional 2014 brought him countless accolades, judging by almost any measurable and race-related variable one could think of.
Seriously, it’s hard to think that someone would take a look at the MotoGP hall of fame and tell me these two fellows aren’t already legendary. I admit that we are now in an era dominated by an avalanche of information and we are literally bombarded with huge amount of high-performance sports action. At times, we may fail to see the extraordinary in extraordinary things, but in this particular case everything comes down to a single sport and it’s the very FIM statistics which tell the story.
Do Rossi or Marquez have to stop riding (for whatever reasons) in order to gain official recognition and a MotoGP Legend plaque? If the answer is “yes,” then maybe the FIM could do well and review the “how to become a MotoGP Legend rules book.”
I am not telling them how to run their business, I am only showing them the crude facts. I know the age of magic and dragons is gone, and the material daily reality might make it hard for some to spot and embrace a legend when they see one. But waiting for a legendary rider to call it quits or die before you can call him so sounds wrong.
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