Ohlins insight: Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia MotoGP feedback

Over five years after his retirement from MotoGP, Valentino Rossi continues to make an impression on Ohlins motorcycle racing manager Jonas Torstensson.

Ohlins, which won its first 500cc title with Eddie Lawson in 1984, has gathered decades of first-hand data and rider feedback.

Speaking to Marca.com about some of the riders he’s worked with, Torstensson said:

“Valentino; he had something special. When he got on a bike, the bike spoke to him, and he could translate it to tell the engineers what needed to be done on the bike to go fast.”

However, fellow seven-time premier-class champion Marc Marquez stands out for his ability to ride around problems: “Marc Marquez probably understands the bike better than anyone else. He can also define what the bike needs to go faster; his feedback is also very good. At the same time, if you make a mistake or can't find the best setup, he'll still be very fast.

“We've had some tests where we brought something new, and he'd go out and set a great time, and we'd say, 'Wow, this stuff is really good.' And he'd come back and say, 'No, I don't like it.' “Then we'd ask him, 'So how come you're so fast?' He'd say, 'I just pushed harder.' “

Torstensson described Marquez and factory Ducati team-mate Pecco Bagnaia as “both very sensitive, but in different ways.” He adds: “Pecco is criticised for being very sensitive, but, from my point of view, he is a really great rider; when we test things with him, he really knows how to define what it is, and his feedback is very good.

“It's also true that he's sensitive in the other way [to Marquez]; he needs to set up the bike properly to go fast. As an engineer, for testing, that's a very good thing.”

Turning to another former MotoGP champion, Joan Mir, Torstensson revealed that understanding a new Ohlins rear shock was a key ingredient in Suzuki’s 2020 title success.

“When Joan Mir won with Suzuki, it was a special year, with Covid and everything. At the same time, we were developing the current rear suspension.

“All the teams had the option to test it simultaneously, and Suzuki adapted it very quickly.

“They had Sylvain [Guintoli] doing the testing, who is one of the best test riders I've ever worked with.

“He and the Suzuki team were able to complete the development work very early on.

“Of course, they didn't win because of this, because the bike as a whole was brilliant, and he was also a very good rider… but it helped, and that part [rear shock] is still used today.”

Ohlins currently supplies all MotoGP manufacturers, except KTM, which uses its in-house WP brand.

The last rider to win the MotoGP title without Ohlins suspension was Nicky Hayden, who used Showa suspension at Honda in 2006.