Football may well have a self-styled ‘Special One’ in José Mourinho, but in my eyes MotoGP has its own version in Valentino Rossi, who it seems has been taking a leaf out of the Portuguese Chelsea FC manager’s book over the past few weeks.

Mourinho is a darling of the media, who know that at any given press conference or interview there is likely to be a sound bite to satisfy the hungry hack. They hang on his every word. This in turn allows Mourinho to manipulate. Chelsea lose a game because they haven’t played well, and instead of criticising the team, the media are left talking about the manager’s outburst at the referee, or physio, or the FA, or the opposition’s tactics, their lunch menu… You get the idea. He changes the narrative to suit his story and protect his team from criticism.

Back on two wheels and Rossi got a fantastic headstart in the 2015 season, with both Lorenzo and Marquez faltering in the early rounds. However as both recovered ground, he saw the MotoGP title begin to slip out of his fingers, although he was thrown a lifeline on a couple of occasions – most notably at Silverstone and Misano – which meant that the dream of a tenth world title remained alive.

Then came Phillip Island, a track he won at in 2014, and the last track the Italian realistically hoped to be able to glean an advantage from before heading to two tracks at which he knew his only rival Jorge Lorenzo would have an edge. He took fourth and lost more of his advantage.

The days after the Australian race saw major criticism of Iannone, but no mention from any party of Marquez’s supposed collusion in a complot with Jorge Lorenzo, yet by Thursday evening in Sepang that was the narrative that had been established.

It was a narrative that fit, and that would take on whole new proportions after the incident in Sepang, and then again following Rossi’s ultimate defeat at Valencia. Instead of extolling some of the brilliant performances in the final rounds (Pedrosa in Sepang in particular), the only thing many were talking about was Marquez and his role in things, especially in the Italian media and amongst Rossi fanatics.

My BT Sport colleague, former World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson, was one to add his voice to the dissenters, questioning how one of the most aggressive men ever seen on a motorcycle was unable to show a wheel to the race winner, having ridden within a second for the entire race. Hodgy was critical of Rossi and those backing him after Sepang, but he saw something hard to explain in Valencia.

As did Rossi. He didn’t speak to the media on Sunday evening until he had had time to watch the race back. I already knew what he would say when he finally emerged; his narrative had been backed up by the outcome of the race, and having spoken to my Sky Italia colleagues in parc ferme, by the Italian commentators.

Around the paddock, fans clad in yellow booed Marquez and Lorenzo, some holding offensive banners and chanting tasteless songs. It reminded me of being at a football match.

It all made me uncomfortable, just as the suggestions had that Marquez hadn’t been trying. I am still uncomfortable with it. I simply refuse to believe that Marc would settle for anything less than first place, and given his problems throughout the weekend as well as his explanation that Pedrosa’s attacks came just as he was winding up for one, his story is more likely for me. Ultimately he is the one who has to look at himself in the mirror.

Look at the Indianapolis race, where Marquez left the move to the final stages of the race. Then look at Valencia, a one-line track where he wasn’t actually close enough to Lorenzo around the majority of the circuit except maybe in the latter laps at turn six – a messy place for a lunge at the best of times. Those who say to me that Marquez had the wherewithal to snap straight back at Pedrosa should also listen to what Dani had to say about that. He ran out wide. He made it easy for Marc. They lost touch with Jorge together.

The main story I saw is that Lorenzo himself wasn’t making it easy. His lap times didn’t deviate from a couple of tenths either side of the 1’31.6 mark until the final five laps. To suggest Marquez didn’t pass, is almost to suggest Lorenzo didn’t deserve to win. He did. He responded to the pressure, as he has often done throughout his career.

The front three spent much of the race lapping in the mid-to-high 1’31s, Rossi’s lap times were consistently in the low 1’32s. One of just two laps in the 1’31 range, his best of 1’31.8 came on lap four as he scythed through the field. Not when he had clear air ahead. Compare that to a best of 1’31.3 and 22 laps in the range for Lorenzo, and bests of 1’31.4 for Marquez and 1’31.4 for Pedrosa.

I would suggest that even if he had started from his qualifying position, he still would have only managed fourth. Turning the narrative around back in Malaysia, meant we weren’t talking about that, nor the fact that Lorenzo was ultimately quicker and Rossi wasn’t able to scrape home to the title, but rather that Marquez didn’t win the title for him.

Some fans viewing things through yellow-tinted spectacles will see this as an naïve attempt to kick a man while he is down (pun intended), but I think the achievements of Valentino this season were incredible. For a 36 year-old to take the championship to the final round and get within a whisker of the title says much about the brilliance from the Italian all this season. However I don’t think anybody can disagree with the narrative that Lorenzo, with seven wins to his name, is a worthy champion and was the fastest rider this year.

It’s a narrative some won’t like to read, but it doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Photo by Ray Archer