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MotoGP, Rossi: the chicane? like turning in a carpark

"It's dangerous and not up to MotoGP levels: it's better to use the F1 layout". On the practices: "I feel good and am not far from the fastest"

MotoGP: Rossi: the chicane? like turning in a carpark

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Valentino isn't scared to speak his mind right now. Yesterday he was quick to shoot down the Thai GP, "a boring track and an ugly place”, today he had something to say about the chicane, created so to avoid the turn through which Salom lost his life last year. A ‘low cost’ solution but one that is not safe.

It's like turning in a carpark - comments Rossi - I don't like it, it's not up to MotoGP standards. It's not track, it's a piece of asphalt laid in the middle of a track”.

Having seen today's crashes it also appears to be dangerous.
It is, the first turn of the chicane is countersloping and you cut the kerb, it's easy to lose the front and if that happens you're in the middle of the track”.

What's the answer?
To use last year's chicane, the Formula1 one, it's still a bad point but at least there's the same asphalt and the turns have the right slope. At least you can ride and it's less dangerous. If not for tomorrow, I hope that there are no doubts about using it next year”.

Can they go back?
I think so, we spoke about it in the Safety Commission at Mugello and they told us to try it on Friday and then they'd take a decision. I hope we're all in agreement. I expected these problems, I already didn't agree last year. In the wake of the Salom tragedy, the plan for the chicane was brought forward but that was the wrong decision”.

They could have widened the run-off at that corner and put down gravel…
Yes, but they also said there is no budget for that”.

The track surface is also in a critical condition.
It's one of the worst of the year, especially when temperatures rise. This is one of my favourite tracks, but they need to make provision and, above all, have the same asphalt also through the chicane”.

Does this impact on the tyres?
Sure and, because of this asphalt, Barcelona is one of the tracks that gets us talking about tyres. They become fundamental here, they make the difference depending on how they behave with the different bikes and riders. Michelin is working hard though and I can say that the tyre situation is better than it was in 2016”.

How are you feeling physically?
Good, much better than at Mugello, my shoulder's not bothering me when I ride. I'm pleased about that.

And as for performance?
It was a shame the track was damp this morning, it was basically a useless session and as we didn't test here we needed every possible moment to work”.

How did it go in the afternoon?
Not fantastically well, I have to improve on corner entry, but my pace wasn't bad. I think that Marquez, Dovizioso and Lorenzo are the quickest but I'm there. On the lap with new tyres, I thought I'd do better than 10th (in truth, 9th after the penalty for Tito Rabat). Aside from Marquez, I'm not far from second”.

Translated by Heather Watson
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