The dismal period of Valentino Rossi ended at the 2020 Andalusia MotoGP on Sunday (7/26). The third podium that makes The Doctor can still be ‘rushing’ in MotoGP.
Ends Rossi’s nightmare. After going through 18 series of races, 456 days full of frustration, the 41-year racer was able to end the MotoGP podium famine. Rossi returned to the podium in the Andalusian MotoGP after the last time it happened in the United States MotoGP, April 14, 2019.
Discordant voices, criticisms, even ridicule, Rossi received a lot for 1 year, 3 months and the last 14 days since riding the podium in the US MotoGP. Poor performances and results in 17 series before the Andalusian MotoGP last weekend left Rossi suffering.
Rossi is said to have complained too much about Michelin’s rear tire problems in recent seasons. Even the Michelin side attacked Rossi. Moreover, two other Yamaha racers, Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Vinales, are able to perform fast with the same motorcycle settings.
All efforts were made by Rossi to be competitive in MotoGP 2020. One of the most significant is replacing Silvano Galbusera with David Munoz to become chief mechanic.
Recruiting Munoz is Rossi’s resignation step. If MotoGP 2020 is on schedule this season and Rossi did not appear competitive in the first few races, it is not impossible for The Doctor to make the decision to retire at the end of this season.
The postponement of the 2020 MotoGP until just last week in Spanish MotoGP became a blessing in disguise for Rossi. At least the Italian racer had time to think until he decided to ‘fight’ against Yamaha.
Rossi revealed a secret that the MotoGP public had never known before. After failing to finish in the Spanish MotoGP 2020, Rossi took an important step against Yamaha mechanics to get the desired M1 motorcycle suit.
Rossi’s frustration was at the peak after the results in the Spanish MotoGP 2020. Not to mention Rossi was also busy being the owner of the VR46 team on Moto3 and Moto2 every weekend.
Yamaha Monster Team Director Lin Jarvis did not deny that there had been a debate between Rossi and the Yamaha mechanical team before the 2020 Andalusia MotoGP. Four days Rossi fought, pressed, until the Yamaha mechanic finally lost and followed Rossi’s wishes.
With more than 20 years of experience performing at the motorcycle Grand Prix, Rossi’s confidence in the motorcycle suit is not in doubt. Rossi chose the extreme way to prove himself has not been exhausted in MotoGP.
Rossi’s resistance bears positive results. He won the third podium at the Andalusian MotoGP after more than a year. Rossi’s gambling succeeded. Rossi silenced criticism, proving he was still able to ‘swift’ in MotoGP. At least for a while.
In the 25th season of the Grand Prix, at the age of 41 years and 161 days, Rossi proved still able to compete in MotoGP. Rossi won the 235 podium at the motorcycle Grand Prix. Specifically in MotoGP, Andalusia 2020 MotoGP results made The Doctor win the 176th and 199th podium in the primary class (500cc / MotoGP).
“I have to fight four days so that my team and I want the motorbike we want. If we surrender, we might get a bad race again at the Andalusia 2020 MotoGP. Yamaha must give me support, because I am a manufacturer team racer and next year I will to Petronas, so they have to trust me, “Rossi said after the race.
What then becomes a question is: is the different direction taken by Rossi can be a guarantee that The Doctor can remain competitive in the rest of MotoGP 2020?
The new answer will appear in the Czech Republic MotoGP 2020, August 7-9. But for the time being Rossi was at least able to prove his career had not been exhausted in MotoGP by taking the podium at the 2020 Andalusia MotoGP. Rossi proved the decision to postpone retirement is quite right.
