Pedro Acosta settles Marc Marquez vs Valentino Rossi debate with bold verdict

11:30, 12 Jun

Andrew McLarney is a MotoGP reporter for GPBlog. With four years experience as a professional writer across the sports and video game industries, his experience as a K1 Premier League competitor evolved into a fascination with all forms of combat sport and eventually motorsport — with MotoGP becoming his primary focus. On top of that he is also an avid follower of MXGP and AMA Supercross as well as F1 and GT racing.

MotoGP supertalent Pedro Acosta has weighed in on the long-standing and divisive debate regarding who is the better motorcycle rider: Marc Marquez or Valentino Rossi?

Speaking on the Gypsy Tales Podcast, Acosta opened up about many different topics over the course of three hours, ranging from his first experience learning to ride bikes to his family's long lineage of fishermen. Among other things, the topic of Marc Marquez came up repeatedly, perhaps with little surprise due to the way the pair have been battling each other on track lately.

Marquez, the master, and Pedro, the student, stole the show at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix as they duelled back-and-forth on a circuit where such overtakes shouldn't have been possible.

'If he's not the GOAT then he's the same level as Valentino,' said Acosta, 'What he's achieved, it will be difficult for someone to arrive and beat him, let's say.'

Rossi and Marquez shared the fiercest rivalry in MotoGP history [Photo: Red Bull Content Pool]

Jase Macalpine, the host of the podcast and all-round two wheel enthusiast and expert, then asked the KTM rider if he were to strip away all titles, wins and statistics, and judged the two riders purely on their riding ability, would he still pick Marquez?

'I would say yes,' Acosta replied, 'if you just think about his comeback to MotoGP, winning on the second try, and how much he suffered. For me, what makes Marc one of the greatest is not how much he achieved, it's how much it cost to take it back.'

'When you have the crown and it goes away, normally we have to understand that younger riders come: Quartararo, Pecco, in his days, Martin... these guys are talented, and you are coming back from really difficult years to take back what is yours.'

'You are lying' Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta share wholesome exchange after Hungarian GP battle

Following the conclusion of the Hungarian Grand Prix, in which Ducati's Marc Marquez claimed his 100th win across all categories, a wholesome moment was shared by the reigning champion with KTM's Pedro Acosta, as well as two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia, at the post-race press conference. Read all about the story here.

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	156
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	90
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	88
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
5	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	60
6	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	58
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	43
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	29
9	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	26
10	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	26
11	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
12	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	15
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	13
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Pedro Acosta settles Marc Marquez vs Valentino Rossi debate with bold verdict

'You are lying' Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta share wholesome exchange after Hungarian GP battle

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