Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has previously been booed by MotoGP fans in Italy. This is most likely a legacy of his fierce rivalry with national hero Valentino Rossi.
Last year, Marquez was booed on the podium after winning the San Marino GP. The fact he was representing an Italian team in Gresini on an Italian Ducati bike wasn’t enough to spare him.
At a fan event over the winter, members of Francesco Bagnaia’s fan club made their hostility known when Marquez was mentioned. He’d gestured to the crowd to stop at Misano last autumn.
Going back to 2016, when Rossi was still racing, the Mugello crowd jeered Marquez after a second-place finish. He arrives at the venue this year on course to win what would be his ninth world championship.
Marc Marquez plays down significance of Valentino Rossi championship record
A ninth title would take Marquez level with Rossi in the all-time leaderboard. Both would have won seven in MotoGP, and two in the lower classes.
In Thursday’s press conference before the Grand Prix of Italy, Marquez was asked about the importance of equalling that record. But he says he has separate motivations.
The Spaniard simply wants to prove he’s the best again after an injury-ravaged start to the decade. Following the 2022 Italian GP, Marquez revealed that he would undergo a fourth arm operation.
The 32-year-old was clearly wary of making any incendiary remarks about his old foe, which wouldn’t have gone down well with the spectators.
“Without a doubt, as I said, I’m in great form, and Alex [Marquez, second in the championship] and I have even improved our level because we’re encouraging each other together, and now he’s at his best,” he said. “But for me, nine championships, if they come, I don’t think that’s the big challenge.
“The big challenge was to come back and be competitive after a bad time. Three years ago, I was here announcing that I was going to the United States to have my arm straightened.
“Everyone has their races, their merits, but I’m more than happy to think about that challenge, and that’s why I’ll try to win the championship. But it doesn’t only depend on me, although we’ll certainly go all out.”
Marc Marquez left Valentino Rossi with the biggest regret of his MotoGP career
Ahead of this weekend’s race, Mat Oxley joked that Rossi should offer Francesco Bagnaia a £100k bonus for beating Marquez. The two-time world champion is under pressure to take victory after hailing his race in Aragon as a breakthrough.
Bagnaia is 93 points behind Marquez already, so many will rule him out of the title race for good if he can’t make a dent in that lead here. It’s currently shaping up to be a fraternal battle for the championship, with Alex 32 adrift of Marc.
Rossi, who last lifted the trophy in 2009, will feel he should have retired as at least a 10-time champion. And he would have taken a title off Marquez in the process.
In a recent interview, Rossi said the end of the 2015 season was his biggest regret. He thought top spot was there for the taking, but lost out to the rising superstar at Honda.
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