In the continuing furore following Valentino Rossi’s attacks on Marc Marquez, the following scenario has been raised in the Spanish media: what would Rossi have done if he had been in Marquez’ position?
More specifically, what if Rossi had had no chance of winning the MotoGP title, but had been in second place behind an Italian rider who was in a position to win the title, in the final round on an Italian circuit, before 100,000 ardent Italian fans? Would Rossi have mounted one of his typical last-lap assaults, knowing that the outcome could always be that his rival might crash and be robbed of the crown?
Such an eventuality would draw the wrath of the crowd, the media, Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta, the FIM, manufacturers, social media - everything. Or would Rossi have settled for what Marquez appeared to do, and look for a reasonable gap in order to pass, but decline to launch one of his any-outcome-is-possible attacks?
As with most questions in the Rossi-Marquez farrago, it will almost certainly never be answered.
