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MotoGP, Rossi: being back in the Championship lead is a fresh start

"It's like closing out a bad period that began in Malaysia in 2015. I am moved by Morbidelli and my hat is off to Fenati"

MotoGP: Rossi: being back in the Championship lead is a fresh start

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Never sell Valentino’s skin until you’ve defeated him. That is not exactly how the old saying goes, but the meaning certainly applies here. The 2017 season had begun with the challenge announced between Viñales and Marquez, but three races later, it is Rossi who leads in the overall standings.

It was a huge surprise for everyone, but especially for me - he jokes after his 2nd place in Austin - I don’t know why, but I was already optimistic in Qatar. Maybe I was like one of those crazy people who see everything in a positive light when they are desperate” he continues laughing.

In any case, it’s a win…
I did not expect it. Even though only 3 races have been held and it does not mean that much and I know it will be difficult to defend this position, it is still a great satisfaction.

It has been quite some time since you were leading the world championship…
Since the 2015 Malaysia GP, from that ill-fated end of 2015. From this point of view, it is a fresh start, the end of a bad period.

You are also the only rider who has been on the podium for every race in 2017.
I have 23 points more than I did last year, this is my best result in Austin and what’s more, I was close to Marquez. It’s a curious thing, because in 2016, this race, along with Mugello, was one of the two crossroads in the Championship where I had gone in the wrong direction.

Between the two disputants Marquez and Viñales, you were the one that came out smiling.
Marc and Maverick have a very big rivalry and they always try to give one hundred percent, so that also gives them great motivation. In any case, I’m afraid that they also keep an eye on me (he laughs).”

Did the crash in the race shatter the magic moment that Viñales was enjoying?
He wasn’t walking in a dream. He did something great and he is still very good.” Who is more dangerous between him and Viñales? “We are at the same level.

Considering Iannone’s performance, was Viñales masking Suzuki’s defects last year?
Maverick demonstrated that he is phenomenal. He may have covered the bike’s problems a bit. Suzuki has a good team though and Iannone is strong. They will come back.

Do you feel reborn?
The initial difficulties were our problem, mine and the team’s. We took longer to understand how to ride and set up this bike. Now I like it. In Argentina I was able to attack Crutchlow and here I was able to go after Pedrosa at the end of the race, unlike what happened last year.

On the other hand, Zarco attacked you in the opening stages…
I do not think the penalty was fair. I either had to run on or we would have touched and gone down. The problem was not the decision by Race Direction though, the problem was Zarco. He is fast and he rides well, but this is not Moto2 and you need to overtake in another way. He came in too late. He needs to be more calm.

Your team did not inform you of the penalty. The right choice?
They waited and they saw that I created a gap straight away after overtaking Pedrosa. If they had shown me the penalty on my board, I might have misunderstood and thought it was 3 seconds instead of 3 tenths. They did the right thing.

How will you be going to Europe after this start?
My goal at every season start is to win a race. Now I just need to enjoy this moment. A nice part of the year is approaching, with lots of tracks that I like and where I have many fantastic memories. Those circuits also have a true MotoGP atmosphere.

This was a nice day for Morbidelli too…
Maybe I already said it, but he almost moves me. I am happy for him. He is doing an incredible job and demonstrating superiority. He just needs to keep it up.

And Fenati?
Besides what happened last year, I have always had a good relationship with him and I still do. I liked the way he managed. My hat is off to him.

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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