Valentino Rossi, the legendary MotoGP rider and team owner, is making a surprising return to the paddock at the Catalan Grand Prix. His presence has sparked excitement among his riders, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli, who credit his unique insights for their performance improvements.
Di Giannantonio, in particular, emphasizes the value of Rossi's detailed feedback, which goes beyond mere technical analysis. He describes Rossi's ability to spot nuances that others might overlook, often revealing insights that can only be gleaned from data.
"It’s amazing," Di Giannantonio says. "The eye that he has is insane. I really get surprised every time because he sees things that you can see only on the data - and he sees these things and you’re like, ‘are you on track with me? What the hell?’"
This unique skill set extends to Rossi's understanding of complex concepts, such as the latest advancements in MotoGP aerodynamics. Despite not being a rider himself for several years, Rossi can quickly grasp new technologies and provide insightful feedback.
"When you explain, if you give a little input, he sees immediately everything on track," Di Giannantonio explains. "So it’s like he has this great capacity of understanding easily what’s new, what he didn’t try [as a rider]. You explain - and he got it. When he does a comment back, the comment is right, like if he tried it. It’s like, 'wow, how are you doing this?' It’s incredible, this thing."
Morbidelli, who is also struggling with the new GP25 machine, agrees that Rossi's mentorship is invaluable. He describes Rossi as a "genius of motorcycles," capable of offering guidance that is often difficult to understand.
"He says that he sees that I’m struggling," Morbidelli says. "I’m struggling with entry, I’m struggling in the exit of the corners. He sees that, and he’s giving me a lot of help to face the lines, to approach the lines of the track in the best way to have the best performance."
Rossi's return to the paddock has reignited his riders' motivation and performance, showcasing the enduring impact of his expertise and mentorship in the world of MotoGP.
