It’s difficult to understand them, getting into the mental trajectories of these people is almost impossible for enthusiasts. With Stoner, to name one, many of us made mistakes, I would say almost all… Let’s be satisfied with the emotions they are able to convey to all of us
15 maggio 2023
Hi everyone! In Varano last Saturday I listened with amusement to some elderly ex-racers who discussed, fifty years after the events, about that time when I had to win and instead you won only because I… The less elderly, those who stopped yesterday or the day before yesterday , they do more or less the same thing because there is no one to lose. But they often come up with interesting considerations.
Like Melandri, 250cc world champion in 2002 and 2005 MotoGP vice-championwho definitively hung up his helmet in 2020. It was precisely at the Motoshow, in a lively meeting to the presentation of my book on Valentino with the satirical cartoons; Marco wanted to understand what satire is, I explained it with the least “politically correct” question that came to mind: Marco, why have you been so whining in your career, a real pain in the ass?
Satire expresses the reality of the moment, without filters. And it arouses the same freedom, that’s the beauty of it. Melandri replied promptly: because I have always given my best and the others less. “When – he says – I arrived in Aprilia, Rossano Brazzi wanted me to ride the 250 with Valentino’s settings. But did you see me? I’m eight inches shorter… Nothing!”
And in Ducati in 2008? “The first time I tried the bike, I immediately said two things: first, this motorcycle does not drive; second, if this is the bike, hold on to Stoner because you won’t find another one like this anymore. They sent me to the psychologist. The bike was too stiff: the bearing engine and a frame that connected it to the steerer tube, all so stiff that you didn’t even feel what the front wheel was doing. Was I wrong? I don’t think so: the facts later proved that I was right”.
Then, to make us understand how Stoner was, Marco added: “Casey was fantastic, very fast, but he drove on instinct, he didn’t even know what he was doing. You flipped his bike, changed the angle of the steerer by two degrees, it was the same time. At Donington, the first corner from third: in braking he climbed down to second, then put it back into third to insert the bike. At the garage they looked at the telemetry and asked him: why are you doing so? Oh really, am I like this? God, I hadn’t noticed… They investigated and finally figured out that he needed more engine braking. But then they made him angry, because they were going to offer other drivers double his salary … “
Stoner remains Stoner, unique. With those skills and that head. Melandri remains Melandri, strong and never happy. The pilots are particular people, it is very difficult to evaluate them with the common yardstick. So a piece of advice for everyone: let’s enjoy them in their best moments.
