You are here

MotoGP, Rossi: "I'm as keen as I was 20 years ago"

The Doctor: "Iannone was brave at Zeltweg, there are seven strong riders, a great championship where you can't risk any mistakes"

Rossi: "I'm as keen as I was 20 years ago"

Share


There's the present, but then there's also the past. Brno isn't just a track like any other for Valentino Rossi. It was in the Czech Republic that the Doctor scored his first historic world championship race win 20 years ago in the 125 class. While rivals may change, the incentives remain the same. Now #46 must chase current leader Marc Marquez, who lost just two points to the Yamaha rider in Austria.

Were you surprised that Iannone went with the soft tyre at the Red Bull Ring?

“We didn't know about the soft tyre, as Iannone only made his decision on the grid. We couldn't use the soft as it deteriorated too quickly. Ducati was quite gentle on the tyre and I think Andrea was brave to make that kind of choice”.

Ducati has proved to be competitive. Could it be an arbitrator in the championship?

“I think so yes, like Vinales and Pedrosa, though it doesn't seem on top form, we know that it only takes a little for it to be back centre stage. There are seven strong riders and it's a great championship. You have to be consistently fast, without making mistakes, because it takes very little to go from being out front down to fifth. It will be interesting to see the two Ducatis in this race and the next ones”.

Five different winners in the last five races. How do you explain that?

“The same guys had been winning for so long. I think this levelling of performance comes down to the electronics, because the single control unit has balanced things out. A year like this is definitely better for Dorna and the fans”.

Next year KTM will arrive on the scene.

“KTM is doing a great job across all categories, also in off-road, I'm sure it won't take long before they are competitive. They have experience, money and competent staff”.

You won at Brno twenty years ago.

“I remember it well, because the feelings are still the same 20 years later. It was a fantastic day, many things have changed since then but the spirit remains the same. Also, after my race, I went to watch the 500 race trackside and people were stopping me to congratulate me. Now it would be impossible”.

Did you ever imagine you'd still be riding?

I never thought about it, also because I didn't set myself any limits. I have always thought about the short-medium term, doing what I felt was right at any given time".

Were you undisciplined as your crew chief Noccioli used to say?

“Pretty much, in fact we judge the youngsters but we forget what we were like at twenty. I probably did a lot worse (he smiles)”.

Today you've announced that Dalla Porta will replace Fenati.

“We tried our best with Romano, but it wasn't possible to continue with the adventure. We hope that Dalla Porta can be strong, and look forward to Silverstone”.

Translated by Heather Watson
__

Related articles