Cycle News

VOL. 51 ISSUE 21 MAY 28, 2014 P135 in popularity. He manages to smile a lot, and though rather prone to corporate-speak, also has a sense of humor. He is only 21, so there's plen- ty of time left. Brand VR46 is becoming well established; brand MM93 has only just be- gun. Rossi has also noticed this potential, as evidenced by a beaming two-man love-in at the post-Le Mans conference. Valentino had just finished second to Marc after leading much of the French race. He'd lost the position when he ran wide, and cheerfully pledged he'd have been able to fight but for his own error. Hmmm. There've been a few previous episodes of close combat, and while Rossi's ca- reer is clearly enjoying some sort of autumnal glow, it's no- table that all such episodes have had the same final result. Rossi was behind him at the flag. Most notable was how hap- py Rossi was to have come second. It was his third such placing in the first five races, including two weeks earlier at Jerez. He was best Yamaha, and easily the best oldie. Most importantly, he was best of the rest. That is the highest honor available so far in the new racing superstar's second MotoGP season. So what happened to the creed frequently articulated by Barry Sheene, then un- derlined in by Kenny Roberts, the previous rookie champion back in 1978? Back then, and for a consid- erable spell thereafter, second was just the first loser. In spite of Casey Stoner, in spite of the intervention of Jorge Lorenzo, and in spite of his two fallow years with Ducati and an underwhelming return to Yamaha in 2013, Rossi is still the major figure in MotoGP. In spite also of his intention to sign up with Yamaha again for a further two years, until the end of 2016 (by when he will be 37 years old), his reign is clearly coming to an end. If nothing else, we are wit- nessing a remarkably gracious and sporting handing over of the reins. Relishing the prospect of another chance to fight with the new boy at Mugello, a par- ticular favorite circuit, and his home GP, Rossi said: "I wish I was 22 instead of 35." Marquez chipped in: "At Mugello, he will be 22;" trig- gering a fresh outbreak of laughter, mutual admiration and good cheer. The old king and the new share one impor- tant and endearing trait: they both radiate the enjoyment of racing. For this and other reasons, Rossi is able to take defeat with a smile. Lorenzo not so much. His reaction is to retreat into icy calm. Dani Pedrosa, the other alien, seems by contrast almost relieved. His demeanor this year is more relaxed, the burden of Honda responsibility lifted from his small shoulders. For the rest, even the thought of coming in second is a major ambition. The ever-enigmatic one- time 250cc and World Super- bike Champion John Kocinski – actually riding for Roberts at the time – gave rise to slight- ly more puzzled amusement when he articulated a rebuff to his mentor's "first loser" creed. After one defeat, he insisted that he hadn't been beaten. He'd just come second. More recently, GP denizens remember chortling at a press statement by Suzuki team manager Paul Denning, after Kenny Roberts Jr. had come second to Rossi at Donington in 2005. "Valentino has been going so well recently," he opined, "that this is like a vic- tory." Well, it isn't really. It's more like coming second. You've just found a way to eat hum- ble pie without spilling any crumbs. The cake tastes a bit sweet- er in 2014. Now the last thing you'd want to do is share it with anybody else. CN

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