Marquez doesn’t expect Rossi to help Viñales in title tilt

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez has said that he doesn’t expect Valentino Rossi to do team-mate Maverick Viñales any favours with the two currently heading the 2017 MotoGP World Championship standings. 

The Italian is currently sat 14 points behind his team-mate after two rounds and despite Marquez being 37 points behind Viñales, Marquez has said that Rossi will be doing anything but helping Viñales secure a maiden MotoGP World Championship this year.

“I don’t think we’ll Rossi working to get Viñales the title,” Marquez said laughing whilst speaking in the thirteenth edition of Relatos Solidarios. “At the end of the day, all riders want to win. We all know the first rule of motorcycle racing, your first rival is your team-mate. All riders, from the first to the last, we all have a winning mentality, that’s why we’re here and everyone wants to win.”

Since wrapping up his third MotoGP title in Japan last year, Marquez has suffered his worst run of results in MotoGP, failing to win in five races, crashing out of three of them. Whilst two of them were in Australia and Malaysia last year with the title already in the bag, the crash last weekend in Argentina would prove a lot more costly.

Marquez said he is not surprised by the start Viñales has made to life at Yamaha, but he is surprised to find himself so many points Viñales after just two races.

“Maverick’s debut has been unbelievable, the perfect debut. But it was something that everyone could predict a little, this is how it was in the preseason,” he said. “What I didn’t expect was mine to begin like this. But there is a lot of time and I can turn it around. We’re a sport of fighters and we are going to try to change things.

“There are now many rivals, I’m eighth in the championship, I have seven rivals ahead of me! But it does seem that the two Yamaha riders are the ones who are the strongest and will make things more difficult.”

Marquez said that he has used his one “wildcard” early in 2017 and will need to keep mistakes to the bare minimum if he is to have any chance to retaining his crown this season.

“Mistakes are always expensive. A season is very long and you always end up making a mistake. I have used my wildcard very early this year, in the second race. Now I must have the mentality to finish the races and keep adding, as I have until now, but without using anymore wildcards.”

 

Photo via Repsol Honda

 

10 thoughts on “Marquez doesn’t expect Rossi to help Viñales in title tilt

  • April 16, 2017 at 10:43 pm
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    If Rossi is so good why can’t he get his bike set up correctly and why can’t he qualify in pole admit it he’s over the hill

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    • April 17, 2017 at 2:38 am
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      Rossi is 38 y.o and he is 2nd in championship. He is not as strong as he was, sure. But he’s no slouch either. He’s still on podium regularly. Tell me where other 30+ y.o riders stand? Pedrosa, Crutchlow. Where are they again?

      Rossi is over the hill, huh? Riiight

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    • April 17, 2017 at 2:48 am
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      You go race a moto gp bike for 21 laps at his age and see how you are after that. Rossi is old enough to be some of the other riders ould lad. Hes the GOAT

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    • April 18, 2017 at 2:44 pm
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      Perhaps he plays it ‘safe’ in the qualifying..? Rossi has said for years he prefers to start behind so as to give himself a challenge in the race. If he starts in front he gets bored I think, and it doesn’t make an exciting race… how many of the top qualifiers actually keep their lead and win podiums anyway? The ones who work harder and have something to push towards in the race tend to see good results, and come across better riders.
      Pole qualifier or not, and winning races or not, Rossi is still undoubtedly the best of the racers in his generation! 🙂

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    • April 18, 2017 at 3:24 pm
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      You don’t know what you are talking about if any other rider is where Rossi is today he truly can call himself the GOAT.

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  • April 17, 2017 at 3:12 am
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    Jr. Don’t be so superfial. All riders have struggled with setup and has many great riders have stated, Rossi is a race day rider. Saying someone is over the hill on these 2 criteria shows you know nothing about racing motorbikes. Get real!

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  • April 17, 2017 at 5:14 pm
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    Rossi is great if not one of the greatest no doubt but the chances he can win another moto gp title fades as he ages..facts are as ya age around the mid 30ts reactions an eyesight deteriorate considerably .speaking from experience i played cricket at a high level an in the space of 2 seasons at my mid 30s i retired. As i could no longer react or see the ball very well. especially from young fast bowlers .where as only a few years ago i was happy to hook an pull them..i just would like to see rossi go out on a good note. .if he leaves it 2 long the decision will be made for him..long term prognosis is he will be unable to compete with young guns vinyalis an marquez simply on age.does not change what he has done for the sport over so many years

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  • April 17, 2017 at 9:07 pm
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    If Rossi can get his setup just the way he likes it … There is no one to beat him.
    We have seen this time and time again.

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  • April 18, 2017 at 4:19 am
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    Just like one of you commented earlier if you don’t ride or you can if you do ride there’s only old as you feel Rossi is one of the best if not the best even on his worst day you guys can hold the candle stupid comments to yourself shut up

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  • May 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm
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    I donno why the Marquez think that Rossi will be helping his team mate Vinales winning this year title from him.
    I believe he is busy planning and plotting for getting the championship under his hat this year.
    He is strong and finished all the 3 races on the podium but the race is getting tougher as other challengers are competing and showing their presence in every race like Zarco, Crutchlow and Pedrosa.
    Dovi and Lorenzo are also watching quietly so that they can try out when they can attack.
    I wish Valentino and other riders a very good luck. Hope the best guy takes the championship trophy.

    Reply

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