Tardozzi’s words ignite the discussion: "With Valentino Rossi it was different"
MotoGP continues to cause controversy, not only because of what happens on the track but also because of a popularity that, in recent years, seems to have lost some of the strength it had at the height of the era when Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and the first Marc Marquez graced the scenes. There has been no shortage of champions in recent years (Marquez himself returned to win a World Championship six years after the previous one), but the absence of figures capable of transcending the confines of the paddock and speaking to the general public as the number 46 did has become a recurring theme.
It was precisely on this topic that Davide Tardozzi spoke, who in ‘Speedweek’ analyzed the moment of MotoGP and the challenges facing the owners of Liberty Media, the same as those of F1. The Ducati team manager recalled how unique Rossi’s impact was: “Valentino was a star and a hero even for grandmothers, in those years they too watched MotoGp,” he said. It is difficult, according to him, to find another motorcyclist capable of generating a comparable media wave.
The same Tardozzi, however, wanted to emphasize the positive role of Pecco Bagnaia, capable in recent years of bringing enthusiasm back to Italy (in addition to two world titles in the premier class) but also of the current dualism between Ducati and Aprilia: “MotoGP, even with what Pecco has done, is always very followed in our country, and of course it is thanks to Italian bikes.”
“I don’t know how the situation will evolve with the new owners, how they will want to promote the championship,” Tardozzi added. “The grandstands in Formula 1 are all full from Friday morning, this makes me think that here in MotoGp somewhere we make mistakes. It is obvious that MotoGp cannot go to Las Vegas, Dubai or Monte Carlo. There characteristics are completely different and we have to think about safety, which is different from those of cars: this makes a big difference.”
Tardozzi’s words have ignited discussion, especially on social media: on the one hand, those who feel strong nostalgia for the days of Valentino Rossi, considering the ‘Doctor’ a unique and inimitable ambassador of the world of motorcycling, one of the very few to make people talk about him even in completely different contexts. On the other hand, however, there are those who consider the current MotoGp highly enjoyable and applaud a 2026 season that is holding many twists and turns, with several competitive bikes and a balanced championship.
