The Legends Parade on the Austrian MotoGP was a mouth-watering second for motorbike racing followers.
Champions from earlier generations hopped again onto their iconic bikes to lap the Crimson Bull Ring on Sunday.
Casey Stoner, Giacomo Agostini, Dani Pedrosa, Gustl Auinger, Luca Cadalora, Loris Capirossi, Simon Crafar, Andrea Dovizioso, Tom Luthi and Tony Mang have been in motion.
by way of Andrea Dovizioso on Instagram
It gave MotoGP followers a uncommon alternative to see their previous favourites again on their traditional equipment, and offered a enjoyable perception into fantasy match-ups from all through the eras.
However followers noticed a notable absentee.
“Very a lot famous that Valentino Rossi is lacking and since he was there he ought to have taken half,” a fan commented on social media.
The feedback continued flowing.
“The place is VR46????”
“The place is Rossi?”
“Valentino Rossi?”
However some MotoGP followers assume they’ve noticed the reply for why Rossi didn’t put his leathers again on.
“I will clarify it right here… Rossi is the sponsor of Monster Power. So please his thoughts is a bit of smarter,” one fan claimed.
One other requested: “You need Monster Power in Crimson Bull house?”
Others posted pictures of cans of Monster or Crimson Bull.
Rossi is a long-time ambassador of the Monster power drink, whose largest rivals Crimson Bull sponsor the house of the Austrian MotoGP.
However Rossi didn’t affirm why he did not journey within the Legends Parade.
The sponsorships stemming from these two big corporations can generally trigger points to be resolved inside MotoGP.
Marc Marquez, for instance, was a Crimson Bull athlete however when he joined the manufacturing facility Ducati workforce – who’re sponsored by Monster – he needed to put on their branding.
Rossi, regardless of not collaborating within the Legends Parade in Austria, was nonetheless entrance and centre of the motion.
He warmly embraced previous rival Stoner on the beginning grid earlier than Sunday’s grand prix, and microphones picked up their non-public dialog.
There was much less heat when Rossi and Marquez crossed paths. Marquez later claimed he didn’t see his previous rival in any respect.
However followers hoping to see Rossi throw on his previous Yamaha gear and tear across the circuit for one closing time have been left upset by his omission from the Legends Parade.
Nonetheless, that they had the prospect to see Stoner on a classic Repsol Honda amongst others.
