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“I'm pleased to be able to bring home the trophy from this race, I really like it”, Valentino Rossi holds on tight to 3rd place Qatari trophy. Despite not being able to fight for the win in the end, the Doctor is happy.
The result comes just a few days after he signed a contract that will see him race until he's 41. Those who criticised the move, considering Valentino's age, have been proved wrong.
“Ten years ago I cared about these things, but not any more- he replies - I don't race to prove to someone that I'm not too old, I do it to prove to myself that I'm able. I am well aware that what counts in any sport are the results”.
It looks like you've achieved that…
“The biggest problem is staying in good physical shape and if I train hard, much more than I did in the past, I can do that. I believe that I can be competitive until the end”.
Have you changed your riding style again?
“You have to adapt and I'm able to do that. I know what's needed and then I put it into practice, I think it depends on talent”.
After this first race, what impression do you have of the M1?
“I have the right sensations when I ride. We've improved but I'm also aware that Ducati and Honda have less issues than they had at the start of last season”.
What can you aim for with this bike?
“The first goal is to avoid any shit races as we had in 2017. I'm talking about Jerez, Barcelona and Austria, where we weren't able to solve our problems. I think this bike will help me, up until now I've only struggled at the Thai test. This race was a good way to start the year”.
Did you expect it?
“Unlike last year, I knew we could run a good race but tehre were too many riders with similar pace so I couldn't know in advance whether it was possible to reach the podium. I rode well for the entire race and to reach the line along with the two fastest riders right now is a good result”.
Could you have done more?
“Maybe if I hadn't run long after trying to pass Zarco… but to be honest I don't know if I could have won. When Dovi began to push I was able to follow him and secured the podium by putting a gap between me and Crutchlow and Zarco. I tried to stay as close as possible to Marc and Andrea because I knew something might happen at the last corner (he laughs). In the end I enjoyed the show from a safe distance”.
Could a different tyre have changed things?
“With the Michelins, at least at this track, you have to decide based on what the bike needs and not on riding style. I tried the hard front but I was too slow”.
