Forcada: "Dovizioso knows what he needs to be fast"

The now defunct Petronas Yamaha SRT went from a triumphal 2020 with Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, vice-champion of the MotoGP world that year, to a chaotic 2021, in which Valentino Rossi did not get the desired results, while in the on the other side of the garage, five different drivers alternated: Morbidelli himself, Garrett Gerloff, Jake Dixon, Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso.

“The first thing is that we had the same bike from the year before, while the others didn’t stand still, they all improved. Then there were all the physical problems of Morbidelli and five riders in a year. It’s difficult to confirm second place in the race. World championship with five drivers, “Forcada told Motorsport.com to comment on this very sharp turn.

After Morbidelli’s knee injury, the Italian’s Yamaha M1 2020 went through several hands until it reached those of Dovizioso, with whom Forcada had never worked before and with whom he will face the 2022 season on a factory bike, a situation that no one could have imagined just a few months ago.

“Nothing surprises me anymore, I have been doing this job for many years,” said the former technical manager of riders like Jorge Lorenzo and Maverick Vinales. In the few races held together in the final part of last season, Forcada was able to get an idea of what kind of rider Dovizioso is, whom he had previously faced only as an opponent. “He is a person who has a lot of information, who has been in this world for so many years and that’s very good,” he said.

Andrea Dovizioso, RNF Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“He knows what he needs to be fast, but he is struggling to do it, because for him the Yamaha is a completely different bike. Already in 2020, with a bike he knew well (Ducati) he had a hard time being fast when Michelin introduced the new rear tire, and when he came to our team he found a new bike for him, which he is finding difficult. But even for Franco it was difficult the first year: it is for everyone when they change bikes, because they have very different from each other and you have to understand how to guide them “.

However, the Spanish coach is confident that Dovizioso can find his way. “He is a hard worker, but above all he is very attentive to details. It is a bit like the Ducati philosophy, in which details are important and help you to be fast. As things are today, it is not necessary to gain two seconds. , if you improve by a few tenths it is already a very important step. When he was at Ducati he was called ‘the professor’, and he had created an aura of leader in the development of a project that has led to a bike that, to date, they all point to it as the best on the grill. “

“The best bike on the grid doesn’t exist,” said Forcada. “But it is true that Dovi adapts to this concept, he pays attention to details, has a lot of method and always wants to be very clear about things. He wants to know where he loses and where he earns, what he has to do to earn and what to do to avoid losing. He works many hours looking at the data, studying, comparing them and looking for the best way to stay ahead, “he explained.

Andrea Dovizioso, RNF Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Dovizioso, who will blow out 36 candles in March, has always wanted to make it clear when he arrived at Petronas that he had signed directly with Yamaha, a move that does not hide his intent to develop the Japanese manufacturer’s bike.

“For any brand, having a rider from a competitor who has a lot of experience is always a help. But not only here, if he had gone to Honda or Suzuki he would have helped them too. A rider can always help you improve if he comes from a good bike that he knows well, not as happened to Morbidelli, who had arrived at Yamaha with only one year of experience in MotoGP and with a very competitive bike (Marc VDS ‘private Honda). But if a rider comes here after having raced in an official team for eight years, is always welcome, “admitted the coach.

The Forlì has been vice-champion of the world three times (2017, 2018 and 2019) and has won 15 GPs in the premier class. A level that he will try to reach again riding a full factory M1.

“I don’t know if he will be able to do it because, at this moment, we haven’t tested the factory 2022 bike yet. It will be a factory bike, but nobody knows how it will be. At Jerez we had the first prototype, but we don’t know if it will be. the final one will also depend on what the others will do “, said Forcada, then taking a break.

Andrea Dovizioso, RNF Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“It’s a bit like what happened with Frankie, who went from second place in 2020 to a third and fourth place as best results in 2021, before the operation. The problem is that if your bike doesn’t it improves and the others do, then the results get worse “.