Rossi brought the curtain down on his legendary career at the enಌd of 2021, although the last of his seven Moto♎GP championships was 12 years earlier.

He earned credit for his remarkably longevity, retiring at 42, although he spent the fina💞l year of his career on Yamaha’s satellite machinery.

An extract from Marquez’s book, via , read: "When is the idea♐l time to retire? 

“In the last four years I would have liked to♓ be inside𝕴 Rossi's head. 

“He is a win🐻ner. He was stuck between 10th and 15th for four years. 

"And on top of that he leaves the factory team﷽.&nbsℱp;

“I wou꧅ld like to know how he managed to come back every weekend under those circumstances."

Of course, it is not too dissimilar to the situation that Marquez now finds h🍰imself in.

His sixth and most recent MotoGP championship was as recently as 2019 yet he has spent almost every moment since then injured, sidelined, and struggling on a Honda wh🐭ich lags behind the pace-setters.

"Fiv🅷e years ago I was Superman,” Marquez wrote in his book. 

“I have achieved everything. The next victor♊y, if it comes, I 🌊have worked for it. 

“I, Marc, not Superman, for💟 whom ๊everything turns out well.

"If ꦦI become ch𝕴ampion again, it will be the most important title of my career, by far."

Marquez is one championship behind Rossi’s tally - and equalling it would takꦉe their ﷽spicy rivalry to a new level.