We are not at the collapse, but the crunches are there. And they are scary. Valentino Rossi's story with Ducati seems ominously heading towards a dead end. Whose fault? And why? Almost idle questions when it comes to two national icons. Of two subjects who gave what they gave to motorcycling. And an answer to the terrible question, the one that 99% of two-wheel enthusiasts from Italy (and beyond) would never have wanted to ask themselves, comes right from Ducati. “Vale's story speaks for him - philosophized the technical manager Preziosi already after the first tests in Qatar, the scene last weekend of the first season of the Moto GP. And therefore, if we are at this point (of low competitiveness, ed) it is our fault".
Real? No. Not really. And not only because, with this Ducati 2012 born on the upheaval of the technical tradition of the Bolognese manufacturer, and precisely to satisfy the requests of Vale who was not at ease with the supporting engine of the past, team-mate Nicky Hayden is doing badly, but however less worse than his more famous (and overpaid) partner. But because, almost in response to the team's hold-your-positions, its almost stubborn stand-together in the face of the even approachable times of the Yamaha and Honda riders, Rossi, shortly thereafter, responded in a defeatist tone.
Now, we are not in a position to criticize Vale and his post-Qatar disappointment. Tenth, half a minute from the winner, Lorenzo who no longer seems to be the inhabitant of Rossi's nightmares, but the master. Even slower than the aforementioned team-mate Hayden. There was enough to make him blurt out. But not to allow him to hiss those terrible half-sentences like “Hope? We already finished that one last year”. Or, even worse: “Hayden? If I had gone like him I could have finished sixth. And I'm not here to aim for sixth place…”.
Phrases, even for the huge fans of the former Tavullia phenomenon, more than unpleasant. Phrases that raise fears of a detachment of the mythical armor of man, even before that of the pilot.
And here, perhaps, we are at the point. Because today's Valentino Rossi doesn't even look like the distant relative of the Valentinorossi of some time ago. Too much desire, perhaps unconscious, to defend themselves before collaborating. The reply is acid, almost always, when a question, perhaps even generously taken away, ends up comparing him not only as the usual uncomfortable companion Hayden, but with Lorenzo, a steamroller with the Yamaha, or with the Stoner who instead - with the comparison at a distance with Vale- he almost seems to enjoy himself. Because Stoner, let's remember, with this very fast but ultra difficult Ducati to ride, with that famous supporting frame that Vale pushed to archive in favor of the new aluminum frame of the 2012, won.
Where has the Valentino Rossi man-team gone? What happened to that primordial mixture of pure motorcycling genius and almost magical talents in the field of tactics, strategy and motivation? A prodigy of ability and sensitivity; a miracle of self-confidence that was able, a few years ago, to leave out of the blue the rich and ultra-powerful Honda that had given him the first world championships in the premier class, preferring the Yamaha and transforming it into four and four eight from the Calimero of racing modern with a new winged horse with which to buy up other titles.
In these days, there seems to be no trace of that Vale. And when in doubt as to who, between him and Ducati, is more to blame for the dusty 2012 that awaits both of them, the balance leans more in the direction of Tavullia. With an even more unbearable doubt that we present here with a few words almost on the run: from that crash in Mugello, from that bad fracture in June two years ago, traces of Valentinorossi as we have idolized him for years, can't they remember more. And in the meantime motorcycling went on. And the Lorenzos and the Stoners have learned that you can win even if it's not by chance, even if it's not thanks to a certain Valentinorossi. And it is perhaps precisely here that the solution of the mystery must be sought.
