Jorge Lorenzo’s crew chief, Ramon Forcada, has publicly criticized Valentino Rossi, the renowned former rider and owner of the VR46 Racing Team, for extending his intense rivalry with Marc Marquez during the 2015 MotoGP season. Forcada claims that Rossi employed psychological tactics to manipulate situations to his advantage while racing, but these strategies ultimately backfired, escalating the conflict between himself and Marquez.
Forcada’s remarks were prompted by Rossi’s recent comments during an interview, where he revisited the contentious 2015 season, blaming Marquez for “dirty” tactics that he believes cost him the championship title, which ultimately went to Lorenzo. Forcada, who played a pivotal role as Lorenzo’s crew chief throughout all three of his MotoGP championship wins, including the critical 2015 season, expressed his views on Rossi’s tactics in a statement to *La Gazzetta dello Sport*.
“Forcada asserted, “Rossi was a manipulator, in the good sense of the term, throughout his career. While this approach worked against some riders, it did not yield the same success with others. In the end, it’s a legal strategy; it’s not forbidden. You can’t even say that he insulted Marquez.”
Reflecting on the tumultuous 2015 season, Forcada elaborated on Rossi’s miscalculation, saying, “He underestimated his opponent. That was his mistake. Historically, Rossi’s mind games had been effective, but with Marquez, he misjudged the situation. Instead of treating him as a competitor, he should have considered him an ally. At that time, Marquez had nothing to lose; he was both young and incredibly fast, while Valentino chose to provoke him.”
Forcada’s confusion over Rossi’s recent remarks, particularly during an appearance on Andrea Migno’s *Mig Babol* podcast, highlights the ongoing nature of their rivalry. He commented, “It’s impossible to understand Valentino’s motivations behind these statements. I doubt they relieve any pressure on his riders. Perhaps he believes Marquez is the primary adversary for his students; the scars from 2015 remain fresh for him, and it clearly still affects him. Maybe he thinks psychological warfare can still be effective.”
In his podcast interview, Rossi went on to label Marquez as the “dirtiest” rider in MotoGP, asserting that despite Marquez’s skill and championship status, he crossed a line in 2015. Rossi stated, “Marquez is a formidable rider and a true champion. However, his aggressive nature veered into what can only be described as dirty tactics. In motorsport, no one has ever actively tried to sabotage another rider’s chances in the way he did. Typically, those who engage in such behavior do so for their own gain. No one has matched his level of dirtiness.”
As the ongoing narrative of their rivalry continues to unfold, Forcada’s insights into Rossi’s approach and the impact of their past encounters offer a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding these legendary figures in the world of MotoGP.
