Valentino Rossi’s approach towards Marc Marquez in 2015 has come under criticism from Ramon Forcada, the former crew chief of MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo. Forcada asserts that Rossi misguidedly attempted psychological manipulation during that season, and his efforts proved ultimately detrimental.
Reflecting on Rossi’s career, Forcada stated, “Rossi was a manipulator, in the good sense of the term, throughout his career.” He explained that Rossi had previously succeeded in employing psychological tactics against various riders. However, Forcada believes that targeting Marquez was a significant miscalculation.
“In 2015, he underestimated his opponent,” Forcada remarked in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “He made a mistake. It had always gone well for him, but with Marquez, it was different. He should have made him an ally, not an enemy.”
Forcada noted that at that time, Marquez was a young and fast competitor with little to lose, making him a formidable rival. Forcada claims that Rossi made an ill-advised decision to provoke Marquez. “Valentino chose to poke the bear,” he added, alluding to the tensions that arose between the two riders.
Furthermore, Forcada expressed confusion over Rossi’s recent comments revisiting the topic, particularly during his appearance on Andrea Migno’s Mimg Babol podcast. He highlighted the contradiction in Rossi’s approach, considering that several riders in MotoGP, including Francesco Bagnaia—Marquez’s future teammate at Ducati Lenovo Team—are part of Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy.
“It’s impossible to understand what Valentino is trying to achieve with these remarks,” Forcada said. “I don’t believe they alleviate pressure on his riders. Perhaps he feels that Marquez remains enemy of his students, and the wounds of 2015 are still fresh for him.”
As the rivalry between Rossi and Marquez continues to be a topic of discussion. The implications of Rossi’s strategies from nearly a decade ago are still being debated within the MotoGP community.
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