MotoGP, Uccio Salucci: "Rossi's 115 wins? I'd rather Marc didn't get there."

The Pertamina VR46 team left the Rio Hondo circuit with satisfaction thanks to the third place of Morbidelli, who in the race managed a head-to-head with Bagnaia regaining the podium after years without any particular satisfaction. It was an important and much felt result not only by the Italian-Brazilian rider but also by the team and Uccio Salucci. The sporting director, friend and right-hand man of Valentino Rossi appreciated Marc Marquez's record of victories, 90 like Angel Nieto, knowing that the next goal within reach could be the 115 of the 'Doctor' Valentino Rossi.

"This podium has a very special flavor for the team," Uccio Salucci said to our AS colleagues, "because when we thought about taking Morbidelli as our rider, around March 2024, we received a lot of criticism that he did not deserve to be with us, so this podium is very important for him as much as for the team. Franco deserves what he achieved, because he spent two years at Yamaha where everyone slaughtered him and everyone thought he was finished. He didn't have all the cards when he had a good bike at Yamaha. People don't know him and keep criticizing him, but we wanted to try with him and we were even more motivated by those who said he was finished."

However, the sporting director also did not fail to emphasize Marquez's record of wins, which equaled that of Angel Nieto, whose son Pablo Nieto is now team manager of the team. The next record to be broken will be Valentino Rossi's own record of 115 victories. "Good for him," Uccio continued, "It's true that he's now aiming for Vale's 115 wins and I think Marquez is very strong, he has a fantastic bike and a fantastic team. I don't want him to get there, but I think he will."