I like how Vale is the demon that lives in the heads of loads of riders like Biaggi and Stoner, but Marc is the only little demon that has ever managed to make a permanent home in Vale's head.
At least we got a Rosquez interaction (that Valentino initiatied, telling Marc good race first and tapping Marc’s shoulder for his attention) for their last podium together.
I have a question for you as one of tumblr’s great Marc/Vale scholars. What do you think it was about Argentina 2018 that made Vale lose his mind so badly? It seems like up to then he was thawing a bit (like Catalunya press conference comes to mind when he says “yes” enthusiastically about their relationship healing) etc. Argentina was just the last straw?
hmmm i dont actually know how much thawing happened on vale's end. its more like. i am now coworkers with my ex and he's still looking at me with big moon eyes so i dont want to be a dick to him publicly bc that would be weird and incongrous with my hot funny girl image. like the famously chill and cool valentino rossi does not start petty catfights (except when he absolutely does).... like their public "reconciliation" was after the tragic death of another racer. it simply wouldnt have been appropriate for vale (or marc) to center his weird feud with marc that weekend like at that point who cares about him losing a title last year! (and well. time passed yknow like everyone was moving on, which doesnt necessarily mean they dont remember) but argentina 2018. oh my god man. like its already been discussed by @f1vegas and @its-always-silly-season in this post and this one so idk how much more i have to add but. marc was wildin' the entire race and he crashed vale out, which DEFINITELY pissed him off and probably brought up all those old fun feelings of resentment and reinforced allllll those narratives... but i think from a story standpoint its most notable from MARC'S perspective bc i think that's where he begins to conceptualize that oh. hes never going to forgive me.