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First Ronaldo, now Rossi: and of course 'The Show Must Go On'

The 'bubble' does not protect, zero-contagion does not exist. The precautions only serve to protect the economic interests that motorcycling, like any other sport, represents. Let us hope that this global tribulation will come to an end

First Ronaldo, now Rossi: and of course 'The Show Must Go On'

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After Ronaldo, Valentino. After the Juventus player was found positive before the match with Sweden, while he was in Lisbon with his national team (after playing against France last Sunday), today Rossi reluctantly admitted that he will have to miss the two Grands Prix of Aragon.

Now, of course, the investigations will get underway and, following Dorna protocol, all those people who have had contact with him will have to go into self-isolation. But it is a procedure that we already know, because it cost two Misano races for Jorge Martin who, precisely because of this, is now 71 points behind the Moto2 leader, Luca Marini, Vale's brother. Before finding out the bad news, Martin was at -8 in tandem with Bastianini and therefore still in the battle for the title.

While Martin was asymptomatic, it seems that the Pesaro rider feels some discomfort and as the 9-time world champion is no longer in the fight for the title (in eleventh position 50 points down on Quartararo), one would say that the only important thing now is his health.

There is more, however: the fact that a famous and supposedly controlled rider is positive, shows that the famous (or infamous) 'bubble' is of little use. Of course, it’s better than nothing, as they say in Rossi's circles, but the reality is that sport must accept this pandemic as a fact.

A zero-contagion situation, bubble or non-bubble, simply does not exist; certainly sportsmen must be protected in the exercise of their profession and the teams and the whole environment must do everything possible not to create risk situations for them, but we must also realize that what we are really protecting is not the health of the participants, but the business.

Even if he had been fighting for the world championship, at this point MotoGP would have continued without him. Even if he had been fighting for his tenth title!

So let's face it clearly: what we are protecting - with the empty stands, with the paddock devoid of its hospitality areas which are the main attraction for the sponsors and, of course, also with the world’s press at home trying to bring the passion to life through Zoom - is the world economic order which in the MotoGP microcosm means the commercial relations between the organizer of the world championship, the teams and the sponsors. Ah: and let's not forget the TVs that pay to broadcast the Grands Prix live.

In all this situation, however, there is one thing that escapes most of the protagonists: and it is that in order to safeguard the contenders for the world titles, who, as reality has shown, are no longer safe, other economic realities are condemned or put in serious difficulty. We are thinking of the small teams that have disappeared from the radar and will find it difficult to reorganize.

Il rischio reale, però, e lo sa bene Carmelo Ezpeleta, non è perdere Valentino Rossi, ma non poter 'chiudere' il mondiale di MotoGP. Ed il rischio c'è, perché il potere di decretare un nuovo lockdown appartiene agli Stati per i quali non solo la MotoGP, ma tutti gli sport, sono poca cosa. Ed anche qui: ubi maior minor cessat. The Show Must Go On.

By all means: ubi maior minor cessat. Do you want a non-literal translation? When more important events happen, less important events are disregarded.

Sad. Tremendously sad, but true.

The real risk, however, and Carmelo Ezpeleta knows it well, is not losing Valentino Rossi, but not being able to ‘finish’ the MotoGP World Championship. And the risk is there, because the power to decree a new lockdown belongs to the States for which not only MotoGP, but all sports, are small fry. And here too: ubi maior minor cessat. The Show Must Go On.

Empty spaces. What are we living for?

Abandoned places. I guess we know the score.

On and on. Does anybody know what we are looking for?

Another hero. Another mindless crime.

Behind the curtain. In the pantomime.

Hold the line. Does anybody want to take it anymore?

Show must go on.

Show must go on.

Inside my heart is breaking. My make-up may be flaking.

But my smile still stays on. Whatever happens,

I'll leave it all to chance. Another heartache,

Another failed romance. On and on.

Does anybody know what we are living for?

I guess I'm learning. I must be warmer now.

I'll soon be turning. 'Round the corner now.

Outside the dawn is breaking, But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free.

Show must go on.

Show must go on.

Inside my heart is breaking. My make-up may be flaking,

But my smile still stays on. My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies.

Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die. I can fly, my friends.

Show must go on.

Show must go on.

I'll face it with a grin. I'm never giving in—

Oh—with the show.

I'll top the bill, I'll overkill.

I have to find the will to carry on with the show.

On with the show.

Show must go on.

From the album: Innuendo - Queen (Brian May)

 

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