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The fact that Marco Melandri is in the paddock at Imola might not seem like news, as the rider lives nearby and knows the track like the back of his hand, but the suspicion is that the well-qualified but unemployed rider is here to iron out some details or at least talk with some key team managers of important teams, possibly factory teams with the right ambitions.
We caught up with a cheerful Marco near to the Yamaha hospitality, where he kindly answered our questions.
Marco, how hard is to be out of the paddock and not racing against the other guys?
“For a racer like me who was born into the bike work and grew up with it, it's great to be here because I can see some friends again and also some of my former rivals. I'm relaxed but I miss the adrenalin and the tension that I felt during race weekends."
There are rumours that you'll be with Yamaha Pata SBK next year…
“Firstly I want to thank Remo Gobbi of Pata for considering me for next season, he and I also spoke last year but then we didn't do anything.. but you know, sometimes flames re-ignite and I'm realising there are some opportunites here for me."
Having finished for good with MotoGP, what would be your wish with regard to getting back a bike?
“With MotoGP I didn't have the conditions that I wanted, or rather, it was no longer possible for me to have a winning bike. If some serious, concrete proposals come in, I will evaluate those that will put me in the right situation - to be able to race to win. I'm not 20 anymore and the next years will be my last opportunities, but I want to race to express my talent, not to make up the numbers."
Are you still training as you did when you raced?
“Yes, I'm training continuously, I go to the gym, do off-road riding and cycle many kilometres each day. The only difference is that I don't feel the stress that I felt while racing and that could be useful next year."
If you were to become a part of Yamaha SBK, you'd work alongside Andrea Dosoli, an experienced and calm guy with whom you've already worked.
“I love Andrea and would like to work with him again."
If you were to work with him, you'd be sharing a garage with a certain Sylvain Guintoli, the Frenchman that you helped to win the title in Aprilia in 2014: do you like that idea?
“Throughout my career I've always races for myself and will continue to do so. This year's break hasn't changed my nature or lowered my ambition. It's not really important who's alongside me, I want to return to racing for the love of it, and I still love it a lot.”
