Rossi: Lorenzo Joining Ducati ‘a bold choice’
When asked about speculation that Yamaha teammate Lorenzo will move to Ducati, Rossi says:
If he did, it was a bold choice. I [would] wish him luck, and also Ducati. I think he can still be competitive, because Lorenzo is a strong rider and now also the Ducati is a competitive bike. The situation Lorenzo finds himself in today is quite similar to mine at the time I did it [moved to Ducati]. I had been at Yamaha many years and I needed a new challenge. At the time I spoke with [former Ducati boss] Filippo Preziosi, who presented to me an interesting project to improve the Ducati – which had already won with [Casey] Stoner – and try to make it easier to ride for other riders. Ducati has made a lot of progress these last few years. The bike is very competitive, it’s very quick in a straight line. In the first two races of the year, they’ve shown they can be at the front.
Lorenzo:
I cannot tell you anything more than I told you in Argentina.
‘Not strong in last laps, need to improve bike’
Rossi talks about the Austin GP. He is currently second in the championship standings.
I am happy to return to Texas and to race at CoTA. We have to work hard in Austin because it’s crucial to understand quickly how bike, tyres, electronics and this track work together. Furthermore in the last laps of the race I’m not very strong so we need to improve with the bike on these tyres. Historically it is a difficult circuit for us and for Yamaha, but last year I could arrive on the podium so I will try also this year.
Valentino Rossi: The Game designer interview
0 CommentsThe designer of Valentino Rossi: The Game talks about the game, which is focussed on Rossi, and includes MotoGP racing, rallying and drifting, and flat track racing on race courses and at Rossi’s ranch. The MotoGP bikes will feature an updated handling model, with more responsive handling.
We wanted to make something completely new this year. Only one person in the world can help us make a better MotoGP game – Valentino Rossi. When we got in touch with him, we discovered he wanted to make a game about himself, and the game was born.
Second set of tyres ‘did not feel good’
Rossi says the decision to change the bikes mid-race was not in his favor.
For me, personally, no. Because we can make all of the race without any problem. We can do 25 laps. But for safety reasons it is OK like this. In the first part I was a lot stronger, a lot more competitive. I thought that I could do a very good fight to try to win. It’s also a shame because, essentially, during the weekend with Yamaha, we never had problems with the tyres. So for the problem of another bike we needed to change everything when we don’t suffer. For some reason with the second bike, especially with the second set of tyres, I didn’t feel good. I had a lot more problems to have the same pace.
Argentina GP: Second place
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Rossi comes second in the Argentinian GP, behind Marc Marquez. Rossi followed Marquez for the first half of the 20-lap race, but after the pit stop Rossi fell seven seconds behind Marquez. He is then overtaken by Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone of Ducati. On the final lap, the Ducati riders crashed, leaving Rossi in second.
With the second bike I never felt the same.
Second place on grid, after Marquez
After qualification, Rossi will start the MotoGP in second place, 0.375 seconds behind Marc Marquez.
Last year in Qatar and also here in Argentina the qualifying was bad, but on the other side the races were fantastic. Now we have done a good qualifying, but the race will be tomorrow. Anyway I‘m quite happy because we worked well on the bike and also the track improved a lot today, we can push more and also have a good pace. I think battling with Marquez will be hard because he is faster, but I‘m not so bad and the most important thing is to fight for the podium and make it a good race.
Due to a failure on Scott Redding’s tire, Michelin has decided to withdraw both rear tyres on safety grounds, and introduce the extra “special” rear compound brought for such an occasion. Each rider will have four of these rear tyres for Sunday.
This new allocation changes the situation a lot, because I thought they would pull the soft tyre and we could race with the harder option, but unfortunately we have to race with a tyre that we never tried before. With this decision we have to start from zero, so we have to hope that tomorrow morning in the half hour warm-up we can understand the situation and that this tyre is safer. Everybody is in the same boat, so we will see what happens tomorrow.
Argentina Friday practice: 7th place
Rossi comes 7th in Friday Practice at the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit in Argentina. Marc Marquez led the pack. Rossi:
Difficult day for everybody because these were challenging conditions. The track was very dirty and in the afternoon it became better, but it remained very slippery and also the temperature was very high so it was difficult to maintain the pace lap by lap. It looks like we suffered a bit with the lack of grip on the track, we slide and also the front tire was not very good. We need to work, so from this moment we need to improve the setting step by step and hope the track will become better and that the weather conditions will become more cold but not wet.
Comments on Qatar booing
After Lorenzo and Marquez were booed on the podium at Qatar, Marquez says he is prepared to encounter more negativity.
It’s something that, for example, in soccer I heard and I don’t like. So I don’t like it in MotoGP, also if it’s against me. But in the end it’s something that, I’m not stupid, I know that it will be usual. We must adapt and for me the most important thing, is it doesn’t matter the [supporter merchandise] colour of the fans – if it’s yellow, black, red – I think everybody enjoyed the race in Qatar.
Lorenzo says he is confused by the reaction:
We didn’t do anything wrong during the last months. We just concentrated on going very fast. I won the championship, Marc tried to do [his best] in 2015 and he is starting this season also like me – to try to be professional and to try to be the best on the track.We are risking our life in the process. So I don’t know what we did wrong, just be very fast and beat some riders.
Rossi:
Boo? I don’t know. I don’t know.
‘We will have to do better’
Rossi comments on the upcoming Argentina MotoGP.
I am very happy to go to Argentina. In this place I have many fans and it’s always nice to feel the affection and passion of these people. I have great memories here. Last year it was a great race. It will be difficult to repeat the same result but we will try. In Qatar I was not able to go on the podium but it was a good race anyway. We worked well throughout the weekend. In Argentina we will have to do the same thing, but we’ll have to do better in the race and try to get on the podium. I really like the Termas track and we will try our best!
Yamaha accelerated Rossi’s contract decision
Despite Rossi saying that he would wait “five or six races to decide” about a two-year contract extension with Yamaha beyond 2016, the timing was changed by team-mate Jorge Lorenzo’s goal of having a new deal secured before the first race. Rossi signed in Doha. Rossi:
I thought in my mind to wait some races, I want to see if I am competitive. Also because usually it is like this, you decide around June. I spoke with Yamaha after the test and they said to me that they are very happy if I continue. In my mind I wanted to continue. The contract more or less was already ready. They said to me, ‘why wait?’ and I said, ‘I agree’, so we did it.
Yamaha’s Jarvis:
I think his expectation and our expectation is most likely this will be the last contract in MotoGP, I guess. But never say never, as we have learned from his career up until today.
Surprised at fast pace
Rossi, says he was surprised how fast the Qatar Gp was. Teammate Jorge Lorenzo completed the race seven seconds faster than Rossi’s 2016 win.
It was a very fast race, faster than last year, which nobody expected. Michelin did a very good job, and also the electronics are good. We expected more difference, to struggle more. But already with three [pre-season] tests, all of the manufacturers improved a lot…I was hoping for some more fights, but maybe it was better last year, more overtaking. This year was more one behind the other…It’s better to arrive fourth, two seconds from first, than arrive second or third, 10 seconds behind. I was strong, but not enough to try one attack, for one sector, one braking. They beat us, we are behind, but anyway we are strong.
Qatar GP: 4th place
0 CommentsRossi takes 4th place in the Qatar MotoGP at Losail Circuit, trailing Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, and Marc Marquez.
Rossi: Lorenzo deserves penalty
Rossi says that Lorenzo deserves a penalty for blocking him during qualifying. Rossi had started a flying lap, found Lorenzo – who had just exited pitlane – at Turn 1. Rossi and Lorenzo exchanged hand signals, and appeared to continue the exchange after the chequered flag, while preparing for practice starts. Rossi:
He exited from the pit without looking at the track and when he arrived at the first corner, he tried to slow down but he was on the line…The problem is that I say, ‘why?’, and I expect, ‘sorry’, but he say to me like this [with hand motion], ‘what the f-ck do you want?’ The problem is that this situation happened exactly the same in Misano qualifying when I did the same mistake. He was very angry with me after that practice and at the end they gave me one [penalty] point. They don’t give him one point. I don’t know why.
Lorenzo:
In my opinion, he has no reason to complain, Everybody knows that when you exit the pits, you cannot stop to let them past because there was some riders entering the first corner and you are already in the corner. All you can do is try to stay in the white line. This is what I did, I could not be in the air, or in the gravel. What can I do? If he is still angry with me, I don’t know the reason.
Qatar Qualifying: 5th place
After qualifying, Rossi is in 5th place, 0.272s behind Jorge Lorenzo, who takes pole with a time of 1:54.543. Marc Marquez takes second place.
Extends contract through 2018
Rossi signs a two-year extension with Movistar Yamaha, continuing with the team for 2017 and 2018 seasons.
I am very satisfied with this decision. It has always been my plan to compete in motorsport for as long as I can be competitive and find it enjoyable at the same time.
Qatar GP Free Practice 3: 7th place
Rossi comes seventh in Qatar’s third Free Practice session, in the evening, with a time of 1’55.883, some 335.2 slower than Andrea Iannone, who led the session. Lorenzo is second.
Qatar GP Free Practice 2: 7th place
Rossi comes seventh in Qatar’s second Free Practice session with a time of 1’55.883, 0.495 slower than Andrea Iannone, who led the session. Teammate, Lorenzo is tenth.
Qatar GP Free Practice 1: 2nd place
Rossi comes second in the first evening’s practice before the Qatar GP, with a time of 1m 55.707, 0.156s slower than teammate Jorge Lorenzo. Rossi achieves his best time time on his final lap of 17. As well as timing, Rossi is working on improving the balance of his YZR-M1 to better improve his feeling with the Michelin tyres.
The first practice was positive. I‘m quite satisfied, it was a strong way to start the season, because the second position is good and also the lap times are already not so bad. They’re in the 1‘55s and the pace is quite good. We start working from what we did in the test. This means that we did a good job during pre-season and we begin with a good base, but now we have to keep focus. The condition of the track changes a lot session by session and together with the team we have to deliver good work so we will be ready when the grip becomes better. I‘ll try to improve the feeling and also try to make the right decision for the tyres.
VR46 Academy football game
Rossi and his VR46 Academy team play a friendly seven-aside football game over two ten-minute halves against Hernandez, who is backed up by Aspire Academy team and former Espanyol player Sergio Garcia. The Aspire Academy team wins victory 3-2. Rossi:
As a football lover, getting the opportunity to play against a great player as Xavi Hernandez is something very special. I told my team to do their best and really go for it, but there was little we could do against such a line-up!
Hernandez:
Sharing an experience like this with a motorcycling legend like Valentino Rossi is unique. I’m proud to take part in a game like this against him and his team and I have to admit they were really into it and playing for the win, not just training!
Football fever at the #QatarGP as #VR46 and his Riders Academy kick off the season at the Aspire Academy! #VRvXavi https://t.co/E4zpu9ugFY
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 17, 2016
Rossi: No rivalry with Marquez
Rossi, Marquez, and Pedrosa appear at a pre-Qatar press conference. In his first appearance with Marquez since last year, Rossi brushes off comparisons to other racing rivalries.
I’m happy to hear my name close to Agostini/Hailwood and Senna/Prost – it is something extra for motorsport, but I think nothing particularly special will happen and on track I think everything will be the same. Everybody will try to give the maximum to try to be in front without something more ‘special’…Personally speaking, the finish can be different and better and I prefer to win than lose. But it is like this and it is past and the good thing is that we are here and we will try to have another good fight in this season.
Marquez does not address the situation with Rossi directly.
We saw in the past in MotoGP, you always try to beat your opponent, but in the end I have 20 opponents and I must fight against each one for try to win the championship and that is my target. This year will be an interesting season because everything looks closer.
Pedrosa:
I think it was a big moment for MotoGP, maybe not like everybody thinks, but there was a lot of fans and the track was super crowded. They had to put up extra grandstands and sell extra tickets, this was a positive thing and the result affects part of the show but overall we can say that MotoGP is trying to grow and that is what we look for, to put on a good show.