Will Rossi ever win again?

[Buffalo Bill]

Rossi did very well. Vinales 1st place & podium, 3rd place in season points!!!

[Chris in TN]

I think it's time, and just about past time, for Rossi to retire. The reason I think he should retire is that, after his stellar career, I'd like him to leave when he says its time...not when he no longer can get a ride and doors start closing in his face.

Ideally, I'd love for him to win one more time and then announce he's done. Unfortunately, I doubt that will happen.

He used to say he'd quit when he was no longer competitive. Well, that time has come. He is by far the least competitive of the current Yamaha riders.

He's got plenty of money, great connections in the racing world, and is already a race team manager in MotoGP's lower tiers.

Like other star riders like Ago and King Kenny, it's time to use that experience and knowledge to benefit a team of his own in the premier class.

[RichDesmond]

A lot of that is the current front rubber. When they changed from Bridgestone to Michelin, the chances of losing the front increased exponentially.
If Michelin can produce a front which gives Bridgestone levels of feel and grip, Marquez will come back to the pack's reach.

This is a good point. It takes a phenomenal level of raw talent to consistently push the front end, and fronts like the current Michelins make it even tougher. You have to go all the way back to Freddy Spencer to find a rider who can push the front the way Marquez does.
On any tire Marquez's talent will give him an advantage, but the difficulty of the Michelins magnifies it.

When he arrived via 125's and 250's the high corner speed, lean on the front style was taking over from the dirt track rear-steerers. His style suited the bikes and tyres of that period. And the bikes were simpler with no electronic overrides.
Since then, electronics have been the big growth area. They've let riders with shall we say, less natural talent, come through. I've never seen Rossi as a great risk taker. Even on the 125's and 250's he wasn't a regular faller - and he was certainly the class of those fields.
Marquez pushes past the electronics limits and is most definitely the leading risk taker at present. Several have tried to match his style - and have earned reputations as fallers as a result. Marquez is a freak.

I'm sure some will disagree, but I think much of Rossi's success through 2006 was due to lack of high level competition. I have the same opinion of Doohan. Both those guys won a bunch, and are undoubtedly great riders, but neither were dominant when other great riders were on the track. Doohan didn't win a championship until Lawson, Rainey and Schwantz were either hurt or retired, and Rossi was only dominant until Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Stoner came along. After that he had his hands full.
Marquez is dominant against what is certainly the most deeply talented field in GP history.

From Dean Adams, written after Marquez's first MotoGP win, in Austin 2013:

https://www.superbikeplanet.com/stories-from-the-old-site-marquez-makes-his-marc-2-2/

I was there that weekend too, all three days. I left just utterly dumbstruck by what I'd seen. Totally convinced that I'd just seen the greatest rider ever to throw a leg over a bike, that he would go on to win the championship that year, and would keep winning them for as long as he wanted too. I think most people there came to the same conclusion, it would have been hard to think otherwise, and obviously the last 6 years have borne that out.
As you say, he's a freak.

[Carter Turk]

I remember watching Doohan in the 90's on TV, & as far as entertainment goes, things got pretty boring & predictable.
Especially with the lame American hosts (Bob Varsha etc. Kevin Schwantz included)
Hats off to Doohans success & talent, but what a flatliner to watch all the winning! No fault of his own really...

I really stopped watching 500cc & early Moto Gp because of Doohan, preferring to watch WSBK, as a more exciting format.
Marquez oozes talent, determination & will to win at any cost, but I think some folks are wishing for someone to knock him off.
Out of 1st place, not any aggressive track antics.
The annoyingly good factor is irritating.

[Buffalo Bill]

As in all sports, you don't have to fixate on the best to enjoy the season.
Has anybody noticed how the Ducati riders have faded since August?
If you like Suzuki, then you've been following Alex Rins, 4th place in points.

[Carter Turk]

Now that Lorenzo retired, things seem the same as of late.
Will be interesting if he gets any points at the final round this year.

[Buffalo Bill]

Now that Lorenzo retired, things seem the same as of late.
Will be interesting if he gets any points at the final round this year.

The top 15 positions receive points, he's plenty good enough to score something.
I'm sure he's been intensely soul searching about completing his 2020 contract. His face looks emotionally empty in recent photos.
He's got all my sympathy.

[Big T]

I'm sure he's been intensely soul searching about completing his 2020 contract.

?????
You missed his retirement this week?

[Big T]

Rossi qualified in 12th, not very promising with his team mates in 1st and 4th. Only .2 separate the top 4

[Buffalo Bill]

?????
You missed his retirement this week?

I was writing about Rossi.

[Carter Turk]

Lucky "xx"th for Lorenzo in the last race before retirement, for a total of 28 points for the whole season compared to Marquez season total on the same bike!
Suppose Rossi is still in the near top hunt.