As the MotoGP legend’s data engineer throughout his glory years, Flamigni saw how Rossi’s gift translated into b🦹rutal🌼 results.

And even hours after his final race in 2021, a private conversation with Rossi underlined how his brain never𒉰 stopped seeking an edge.

“This is incredible for me too,”ಌ Fl♉amigni told . 

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

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

“I really reali🐎sed how light years ahead V♏alentino was. And he was."

Rossi amassed seven premier cl🔥ass championships and the type of mainstream fame that no other MotoGP rider has achꦡieved.

But at his core, he was a racer. And Flamigni knew that better than anybody through 🎶his st𝄹udying of Rossi’s data.

What did those numbers prove?

“A great ꦿrepetitiveness and an impressive consistency of performance in the race,” Flamigni explained. 

“In hammering the clock and the opponents.

“Then the ability to slide the Yamaha quickly through corners, following a deadly braking and consequent very quick and preci🌳se tur🌜n.”

Flamig✃ni worked with Max Biaggi at Yamaha in🐬itially, having already crafted a respected career of his own.

“Then Rossi arrived,” Flamigni said. 

“With Valentino every💝thing changed: system, atmosphere, method. And the rℱesults."

His 2004 mov🥂e from Honda to Yamaha was𒅌 when his legend began to grow.

“Of course, Vale brought the M1 back into vogue, previously it forced to the centre of the group o🐟r to the rear,” Flami🦂gni said. 

“The [sole] podium achieved by Alex Barros the year ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚbefore explains the situation we🐎ll. 

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

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

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

"I asked Val🐻e if everything was okay,” he remembered. 

"He seemed pretty pleased, then... He threw me away, his face dark🤡.

“He said he couldn't wheelie♍, he just couldn't. 

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

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

“That anecdote is not t🐈aken by chance but, if you ask me for others, I wouldn't be able to answ💞er. 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, inꦺ Rossi🤪’s VR46 team.

“I felt like Rossi's telemetrist, with whom he shared triu🅷mphs and crashes, successes and hard moments, different eras in Yamaha and years i🃏n Ducati,” he said. 

“It seems like yesterday that we st🐻arted, but I have worked with Rossi for almost twenty years. 

“🦹I wanted to challenge myself differently, ꦺhere I am."