You are here

MotoGP, Rossi: I enjoyed winning at Jerez

"I don't remember a race like this one and it's come at the right time. Motivation is important"

Rossi: I enjoyed winning at Jerez

Share


To win again almost twenty years after first doing so, to do it at Jerez, the home of Marquez and Lorenzo, and to dominate it, leading from start to finish: this is Valentino’s 113rd race win.

“To be honest I can’t remember the last similar race, maybe there’s never been one. I was on the grid and my mechanic Brent said: ‘you’ll lead from beginning to end’. I thought it might be a good plan”, he laughs.

You did it, apart from a moment where Lorenzo got his wheels in front…

“I made a good start and made a fantastic first lap, then on the second I wasn’t totally confident. He made a move but I felt good and knew I had good pace. Even if Jorge had managed to get in front, I wouldn’t have been too worried.”

You felt that strong?
“I left home with a feeling I'd be competitive at Jerez, to be honest it wasn’t a certainty, but a hope.”

How important is it to have won?
“I’m not sure if it’s very or extremely important, but not so much because we're in Spain but because this is a track with so much history. In the past, I was fast here and then with the Bridgestones I struggled. It had also been a while since I last won. I enjoyed being on the podium, in the middle, a little higher than the other. It's a win that has come at the right time.”

Since Silverstone…
“After that it was Marquez, Lorenzo and Pedrosa: now it was my turn (he laughs) Last year I won 4 races but only held the lead for a few laps, before today I hadn’t even done one while now I’m at 27”.

What was your secret?
“The work in the garage throughout the entire weekend, also this morning, having made the right moves in warm-up. I was only worried about ten laps from the end. The rear tyre had started sliding around on the straight and I was scared it would overheat and cause vibrations. I slowed a little, didn't open the gas fully on the straight, but the tyres and bike behaved very well through the corners and so I was able to continue to be fast.”

Did Cadalora also help?
“I’m pleased for him on his first win as coach (he laughs). We’re working together a lot and his advice is important, also in terms of bike set-up. Just as there is a great understanding with Galbusera and Flamigni.”

What does this win mean?
“Experience has taught me to enjoy the moment, because everything can change in the space of a week.”

And you sure have plenty of experience…
“It’s been 20 years since my first win, now it’s more difficult, you need more training and effort. I think you can ride a MotoGP until you’re at least 40 from a physical point of view, what makes the difference is motivation. I feel good.”

This race demonstrated that…
“It’s always been the same, at the start of each year the first aim has always been to win a race, and I've always done that, except from with the Ducati.”

Are you back in the fight?
“It was a pity about my mistake at Austin, otherwise I’d be 4 points from Marquez. Right now I have to take it race by race.”

And then there are the great results for your guys…
“I'm really pleased, particularly for Bulega and Bagnaia, but also for Morbidelli in Moto2 who came 4th and my brother Luca who would have been top ten if it wasn’t for the crash. What amazed me about Nicolò is his maturity, on the last lap he did some amazing braking but without bothering anyone else. I wasn’t like that at his age (he laughs)”.

Translated by Heather Watson
__

Related articles