Motorsport Week continues its end-of-season MotoGP review pieces by taking a look at the declining fortunes of Valentino Rossi, as he endured a win-less campaign aboard Yamaha's YZR M1.
Whether you’re a fan of Valentino Rossi or not, you simply have to tip your cap to a man who continues to compete in world championship level motorcycle racing at the grand old age of 40, with 2020 set to be his 21st successive season in top class MotoGP competition.
Over his 20 years in MotoGP, spread across 500cc, 800cc, 990cc as well as the current 1000cc machines, he has secured seven MotoGP riders titles with Honda and Yamaha, accumulating a staggering 89 wins in the period.
The Doctor has suffered somewhat for speed though across ’19, having been firmly cast into the shadow by Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales and rookie wonder-kid Fabio Quartararo on the satellite Petronas SRT M1 bike.
His generally low-key qualifying performances have been well documented over the past few seasons, but the Italian has always made up for his Saturday struggles with blistering race speed.
Worryingly though it seems even that is now beginning to diminish, with his strong start to the year – in which he scored two runner-up results in the first three races – soon firmly in the past as he failed to stand on the podium again before year’s end.
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Rossi has made it clear he expects more in the power stakes from his Yamaha at several points this year, but while this is an area the Japanese factory needs to focus on heading into next season, it quite simply does not explain the Doctors deficit.
Vinales managed to close out the year third overall in the points standings with two victories, crossing the line ahead in every race he finished since Austria-where Rossi headed the Spaniard for fourth.
It begins to look even worse for Rossi when you look at the record of Quartararo, who in his first season of premier class competition racked up an incredible seven podium finishes alongside six pole positions with a year-old example of the M1.
Rossi himself has admitted throughout the year to a severe lack of rear grip-spread across most events – which seems to be an issue with set-up, while a glaring lack of problems with his three other Yamaha stable-mates frustrating him further.
The problem itself creates a two-fold effect, with Rossi having to push harder to make up for the lost speed due to the lack of grip, which then wears out the rear tyre faster, resulting in a severe pace drop in the closing stages of the race relative to his rivals.
He and departing crew-chief Silvano Galbusera have threw everything at the problem to try and find a fix, but nothing resulted in a breakthrough.
He at least managed to put in a solid performance in Malaysia as he battled Andrea Dovizioso’s Ducati for third across the full race distance, although the GP19’s superior straight line speed ultimately proving Rossi’s quest fruitless.
Rumours have abounded that ’20 – the final year on Rossi’s Yamaha contract – could well be his last if his struggles continue, particularly as Quartararo will surely continue to develop and force Yamaha’s hand, especially if another rival team decides to swoop in and steal the Frenchman for themselves.
Rossi and Galbusera announced they were to split ahead of the ’20 season, with VR46 Moto2 crew chief David Munoz being promoted to join Rossi as he continues to search for a resolution to his race problems.
Rossi was quiet regarding any potential set-up breakthrough following the first pre-season tests at Valencia and Jerez respectively, with Yamaha’s seemingly continuing power deficit with its all-new engine taking centre stage instead.
If 2020 indeed turns out to be Rossi’s MotoGP swansong, it would be a crying shame to see him struggle once again-particularly with the retiring Jorge Lorenzo going out in such a low key manner this year.
His last victory remains the Dutch TT in ‘17, and wouldn’t it be lovely to see the Doctor surpass the 90 win mark before he finally hangs up his coat.
