Valentino Rossi and the missed titles after 2009: Ramon Forcada’s explanation

A champion who stopped winning, with reasons that a great insider analyzed.

Ramon Forcada, experienced former MotoGP chief technician, addressed many hot topics in a long chat with Manuel Pecino on the latter’s YouTube channel. Among them the performance of Fabio Quartararo in the last season, but also and especially some interesting details about Valentino Rossi’s career.

“Valentino Rossi was an expert in psychological warfare with his rivals,” said Forcada. “He stayed that way until he found riders smarter than him. And if he hasn’t been able to win since 2009, it’s because others were able to assimilate certain innovations for the first time.”

The reference is to the advent of Michelin tires, but also innovations in electronics and aerodynamics. “Apart from that, though, Valentino Rossi has been the absolute number one in terms of strategy. We have seen, over time, how many opponents he has demolished psychologically,” Forcada pointed out.

Then the reference to Fabio Quartararo and current events. “Bagnaia was very fast, but I don’t know if everyone realized what Fabio did,” Forcada pointed out. “He was left alone, with a bike with no evolutions and an engine that wasn’t going. Contending with Pecco for the world championship until the end is something for which he should be given due credit.”