Andrea deserves this recognition, we are sincerely convinced of it, but there are other Italian riders who should already have a place in the clan and who are ignored. The names? Villa, Cadalora, Capirossi, Bianchi and Lazzarini… What is the admission criterion? Mystery
February 16, 2023
Where has it been admitted among the MotoGP Legends, will officially join the clan at Mugello, and of course we are very happy for him. Partly surprised – just as Andrea himself was surprised – but happy because we know directly the value of the driver from Forlì: who has expressed class, tenacity, technique, commitment, passion in his career.
These are all qualities that Dovizioso must absolutely recognize, and what’s more, let’s get involved intellectual honesty, that dowry that has sometimes complicated his life but which has given us all, enthusiasts and journalists, safe, precise and understandable analyses. And for that we are especially grateful.
All this to clarify that we do not underestimate nor do we intend to disrespect Dovi when we reiterate on this occasion what we have already written in the past: what to expect a include Italian riders such as Luca Cadalora and Loris Capirossi among the Legends? Because this time it was also thought to Hans-Georg Anscheidt and not to Eugenio Lazzarini or Pier Paolo Bianchi which titles have they won three in small engine capacity exactly like the German? And because he is not yet among the Legends the great Walter Villa, who passed away in 2002, who conquered the world title four times in the intermediate classes like Max Biaggi or Kork Ballington who are already there among the greats?
If we scroll through the list of chosen ones, the lack of a recognizable criterion is striking. There are rightly the big stars like Ago, Nieto and Mike, there are also riders who have won only one title, like Lucchinelli or Uncini or Schwantz or Gardner or others. Just like Dovi, who conquered the 125cc class in 2004. E there are even those who have not won a single title, like Randy Mamola. We don’t believe that sympathy should reward this or that driver. But then, what does it matter?
It must necessarily count the individual palmares of each pilot, the titles and the GPs won must count. And perhaps, we agree, also the place that history has assigned them in the hearts of enthusiasts, as is the case of Jarno Saarinen or Marco Simoncelli: they have only won one title but there is an aura around their names which is truly legendary.
Now you can’t make a bunch, of course, it wouldn’t be nice to name dozens of Legends overnight. In short, it is understood that the appointments should be sipped, also to give prestige to the operation. So we don’t expect that from tomorrow Villa, Cadalora, Capirossi, Bianchi and Lazzarini will be able to enter with fanfares. What we ask is that the organizer dispel any doubts of partiality and make the assignment criterion public and understandable.
