Suzi Perry explains why she ranks Valentino Rossi above Marc Marquez as a ‘package’

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Marc Marquez has reignited the ‘greatest of all time’ debate this season. He’s romping to what will be a seventh premier-class title, matching Valentino Rossi’s haul.

With a 175-point buffer over his brother Alex, Marquez could seal the title at Misano next month. That would be extremely symbolic given that it’s effectively Rossi’s home circuit.

Marquez has tried not to mention Rossi, so he isn’t fuelling the debate himself. But as the table below shows, he’s getting closer and closer to the Doctor’s biggest records.

Marquez was booed at Mugello earlier this year, and there are fears among Ducati staff that he’ll face a similarly rancorous reception at the San Marino GP. Clearly, 10 years after the rivalry exploded in Sepang and four years after Rossi retired, the animosity between the two camps persists.

Suzi Perry says Valentino Rossi ‘changed the game’ in MotoGP

Speaking on TNT Sports‘ coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this month, Suzi Perry explained why she ranks Rossi above Marquez in the ‘GOAT’ debate. Perry first presented motorcycle racing coverage between 1997 and 2010, and then returned to the role in 2016.

Rossi won his first Grand Prix title in ’97 and debuted at the top level in 2000, winning all seven of his titles in the span of 10 seasons.

Perry was absent from the paddock for Marquez’s historic rookie campaign, as well as his 2014 triumph. But she insists that both riders hold a special place in her heart.

For her, the difference is that Rossi transformed MotoGP, arguably becoming its first modern superstar. Marquez benefited from the Italian raising the profile of the sport.

“I just feel that, for me, it’s a package,” Perry explained. “And I just think that Valentino changed the game. He changed the world of MotoGP.

“He gave them a peg to hang their sport on for a long time, and it’s quite easy to forget that because it’s talked about so much, and we’ve got this incredible rider in Marc Marquez who I also love. I also love Marc. You’re allowed to love both of them!

“I admire Marc so much for what he’s done and what he’s doing. I think he’s utterly phenomenal. And I think he will go on to win more championships than Valentino, and it doesn’t really matter to me who’s the greatest.

• READ MORE: Valentino Rossi once fumed at the ‘absurd’ thing Marc Marquez did to try to ‘destroy’ him

“They’ve both brought their show, and I think we’re really lucky to witness these super-talented, incredible superstars on bikes. To be able to talk about it and tell stories about it is an absolute privilege.

“Having been there throughout the Valentino era, it’s got a special place in my heart and it always, always will have. And so will Marc.”

Where Pedro Acosta and Jorge Martin stand on the Marc Marquez vs Valentino Rossi debate

Inevitably, Marquez’s current competitors have been asked for their take this year. Marquez hasn’t won the title since 2019 after four injury-affected years at the start of the decade.

Like Perry, reigning world champion Jorge Martin says Rossi is MotoGP’s biggest icon. But he stressed that ‘there hasn’t been a rider like Marc’ in terms of talent.

Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta compared Marquez to Michael Jordan, who made a similarly impressive comeback after briefly retiring from basketball in the 1990s. He says the Ant of Cervera is ‘on par’ with Rossi.

Franco Morbidelli is reluctant to call Marquez the greatest, though, because he was unhappy with his conduct in 2015. The Spaniard has always denied helping compatriot Jorge Lorenzo in the title race, which was the source of Rossi’s fury.