MLM (Men Loving Motorcycles)

Marc crashes out of the race at Silverstone while trying to catch Valentino.

Marc celebrated his 50th win across all classes today. 

He is the youngest rider to achieve this. Which prompted me to compare his numbers with Rossi’s.

As far as career trajectories go, they are fairly similar - Marc got started in the world championship 2 years earlier, but stayed a year longer in 125cc.

Looking at them in the lower categories:

125cc

Marc: 13th, 8th, 1st (0-0-10 wins)

Vale: 9th, 1st (1-11 wins)

250cc/Moto2

Marc: 2nd, 1st (7-9 wins)

Vale: 2nd, 1st (5-9 wins)

So they arrived to the premier class with an equal number of wins.

500cc/MotoGP

Marc took the 50th win of his career:

 In his third year in the premier class

With Honda

At Phillip Island

He currently has 24 wins in the premier class.

He won two titles in his first three seasons.

Valentino took the 50th win of his career:

 In his third year in the premier class

With Honda

At Phillip Island

He finished the season with 24 wins in the premier class, having finished second in Valencia (last race of that season).

He won two titles in his first three seasons.

Huge moment for Marc in FP3, and another miraculous save (Assen)

More shots of Marc’s save, because reasons. (FP2, Brno)

The way the front wheel completely folds in, and he somehow still manages to push himself and his bike off the asphalt and pick it back up - just unreal. 0 reaction after watching the replay just makes it better.

Qualifying edition, and win percentages!

So I did a quick breakdown of their 50 wins (x), now I bring you more.

We’re still looking at the same seasons, up until they managed to get 50 wins, so from the start of their world championship career up to the end of their 3rd year in the premier class (still on-going for Marc, of course).

Pole positions overall

Marc: 58 pole positions overall in 130 races, 44.6 %

Valentino: 21 pole positions overall in 108 races,19.4%

Front row starts overall

Marc: 84 front row starts in 130 races, 64.6%

Valentino: 56 front row starts in 108 races, 51.8%

So Valentino did alright - much worse in terms of pole positions, but he had plenty of front row starts. Or so it seems. But then I looked at the premier class.

Poles in MotoGP

Marc: 30 in 52 races, 57.7%

Valentino: 11 in 48 races, 22.9%

Front row starts in MotoGP

Marc: 44 in 52 races: 84.6%

Valentino: 23 in 48 races: 47.9%

The difference is very pronounced here. Looks like in the premier class, qualifying has never been Rossi’s strongest suit (I say, with him having a 48% front row start percentage). Or more accurately, Marc is just ridiculously good in that regard (too).

Winrate overall

Valentino has a higher winrate, since he achieved 50 wins in fewer GPs.

Marc: 50 wins in 130 races: 38.5%

Valentino: 50 wins in 108 races: 46.3% (heh, 46)

Podiums overall

Marc: 77 podiums in 130 races: 59.2%

Valentino: 74 podiums in 108 races: 68.5%

But of course Marc had that first year in 125cc where he didn’t “do” much, I mean he was still very young. Valentino arrived to the world championship when he had two extra years of experience and racing over Marc.

And the best for last… We’re looking at their overall career in the world championship now, all seasons, all races up until Sepang.

So for Valentino that would be 1996-2015, post PI. For Marc it’s 2008-2015, post PI.

Fastest laps overall

Valentino : 93. Marc : 46.