English
Italiano
Valentino Rossi has not got tired of MotoGP yet, on the contrary he is still waiting with trepidation for every Sunday, every race, even after 26 years of the World Championship, 42 those on his identity card. He’s a case more unique than rare, even if this obstinacy fused with passion often does not spare him from criticism, especially when the results are below his expectations.
And yet the Doctor is still not giving up and, in an interview published today in Gazzetta dello Sport, he explained why.
"My reasoning is very simple and for me it’s strange that some people don’t understand it, maybe my way of thinking is different – were his words - I like the way I feel, the sensation, the adrenaline that makes me win, go onto the podium or just have a good race. I'm fine for a few days. I like that feeling there. I know very well that in the end time will have won, unfortunately that’s the case for everyone, but I try with all my force to make it as difficult as possible. This is the only reason why I still race ”.
Valentino has no regrets, such as that of retiring as a winner.
"What you lose by stopping doing what you like is more than what you gain by quitting when you are at the peak of your career – is his philosophy - And anyway you never know if it's really over: in 2013, when I returned to Yamaha, for everyone I was already finished. Instead, if they hadn't stolen the World Championship from me in 2015, I would have won another one, it would have been the tenth one and it would have extended my winning sporting life by even 6 years. I don't want to finish 12th or 16th, of course, but if I wanted to quit at the top I should have done it a few years ago. But I believe in it and I still want to try ”.
Looking back at his past, however, there is one date that he has not yet come to terms with…
“Valencia 2006. There I threw away a world championship title that I could have won and it would have been 10 anyway, even after the theft in 2015” he recalled.
Apart from a few flaws, Rossi has however been the symbol of motorcycling in recent years and he knows this perfectly well.
"I was the first modern MotoGP rider, I was the first to do many things that have become a lesson for many riders now - he explained - I started very young, but at 20 I was already in 500 and my path was followed by everyone. There are a few things that I have done and that everyone has seen".
The final chapter (for now) of his story is with the Petronas team…
"I don't want to bite the hand that fed me, because I was also fine in the official Yamaha team - he underlined - But in Petronas it is very good, there is a great atmosphere, a lot of young guys, a ‘free-range’ team. In the morning it gives me a lot of pleasure to enter the garage, there are people who give their soul ".
