As the MotoGP legend𒐪’s data engineer throughout his glory years, Flamigni saw how Rossi’s gift translated into brutal results.

And even hours after hisℱ final race🌳 in 2021, a private conversation with Rossi underlined how his brain never stopped seeking an edge.

“This is incredible f🌳or me too,” Flamigni told . 

“After announcing his retirement, at the end of🦄 the last GP, in Valencia, in the evening dinner he took me aside. 

“He gave me a thoug๊ht: 'You know Matteo, for me the bike would run better if I did it like this...'

“I rea𒈔lly realised how light years ahead Valentino was. And heꦇ was."

Rossi amassed seven premier class championships and the type of mainstream fame that n💫o other MotoGP rider has achieved.

But at his core, he was a racer. And Flamigni knew that better t♕han anybody through his studying of Rossi’s data.

What did those numbers prove?

“A great repetitiveness and an impressiv🐲e consistency of performꦦance in the race,” Flamigni explained. 

“In hammering the clock and the opponents.

“Then the ability to slide the Yamaha quickly through corners, followဣing a deadly braking and consequent very quick and precise turn.”

Flamignไi worked with Max Biaggi at Yamaha initially, having already crafted a respected career of his 🌱own.

“Then Rossi arrived,” Flamigni said. 

“With Valentino everything changed: system, atm💧osphere, method. And the results."

His 2004 move from Ho⛎nda to Yamaha was when his legend bღegan to grow.

“Of course, Vale brought the M1 back into vogue, previously it forced to the centre of the group or tꦍo the rear,” Flamigni said. 

“🎃The [sole] podium achieved by Alex Barros the year before expl🐎ains the situation well. 

“While Rossi immediately hit his target, that title defined by everyone as impossible, it🐲 was a gamble just to think about it."

There are too many incredi൩ble memories for Flamigni to narrow down, but one stands out.

It came after the warm-up to the 2004 ಞMalaysian MotoGP, with Rossi closing in on a sixth title.

"I asked Vale if everything 🅺was okay,”🌠 he remembered. 

"He seemed pretty plﷺeased, then... He threw me aw🧸ay, his face dark.

“He said he🦩 couldn't wheelie, he ju🅺st couldn't. 

“We still had to compete in the race, and he was alreಌady thinking about how to celebrate the victory! 

“He felt so certain that he made me feel safe.

“That anecdote is not taken by chance but, if you ask me for others, I wouldn't be𓄧 abl🅷e to answer. I have too many, way too many."

When Rossi retired, 🌱Flamigni stopped working as a data engineer.

He is now Marco Bezzecchi’s crew chief, in Rossi’s VR46 team𝄹.

“I felt like Rossi's telemetrist, with whom he shared triumphs and crash﷽es, successes and hard moments, different eras in Yamaha and years in Ducati,” he said. 

“It seems like yesterday that we started, but I have worked wi🌊th Rossi for almost twenty years. 

“I wanted to challenge myself diff🧸erently, ꦅhere I am."