At Petronas, in 2021, Valentino Rossi and Ramon Forcada will come face to face, as in the days of the Yamaha factory team. The Malaysian colors may claim that their aim is to encourage youth and the emergence of new talents at all levels, but it appears that, this season, they will be home to veterans. The vagaries of Yamaha policy spilled over into Yamaha’s intentions Razlan Razali who presides over the destiny of this structure which will only enter its third campaign at the highest level of the Grands Prix. How do the two parties, from the chief engineer to the pilot, approach this reunion?
At Petronas, in 2021, there will be an air of déjà vu in the box. With on one side Valentino Rossi and on the other Ramon Forcada, memories of a period within the factory structure Yamaha will come to mind. It will be recalled, in fact, that the experienced Spanish chief engineer was in the service of Jorge Lorenzo when he arrived in MotoGP on the official M1, much to the anger of Vale who had completely erected a wall separating the two sides of the box.
Forked remembers this time on speedweek : " there were a lot of ups and downs between Rossi and Jorge. At first everything was fine. Problems then appeared on the slopes. Especially when Lorenzo was a little faster than Rossi ". He adds : " if the drivers get along well, this positive atmosphere spreads throughout the team in the pit »Says Forked. " Everyone drives for themselves on the tracks anyway ».
The team of Valentino Rossi at Petronas Yamaha will be formed of David munoz (chief macenician), Matthew Flamigni (telemetry), Idalo Gavira (coach). The mechanical sector was renewed at the request of Malaysian leaders. Alongside the Doctor, we will find Miguel Perurena, Robin Spijkers, Daniel Swyer and Martin Zabala.
Rossi: “we will work well together and move forward”
Otherwise, in terms of general atmosphere, we can count on an atmosphere very different from that which was in force with Jorge Lorenzo ... " I can't wait to ride with Franco. After all, he is our pilot “, declared Rossi. “ If you had told Franco or me five years ago that we would be a team, neither of us would have believed it ", admits Rossi which explains why: from the point of view of the time, it was not possible for him or for me. Because I could have stopped by then ».
Instead of that, Rossi begins its 26th season in the motorcycle world championship in just a few months, and its 22nd season in the premier category. The contract of Rossi with Petronas-Yamaha is currently valid until the end of 2021, while Morbidely signed it until the end of 2022. However, Rossi has the possibility of adding a second year. Vale finishes: “ I guess Franco and I will work well together and move us forward ».
Statistically speaking, Rossi is on the verge of 200 podiums, since he has 199. His last one dates from Jerez in July 2020 during the second race on this circuit, a format imposed by the health crisis. However, he hasn't won since June 2017. That was at Assen.
