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MotoGP, Rossi: “Austin? We know how to reach the podium"

Valentino: "This is the toughest track", Vinales: “I'll make some changes to the bike, I can't afford to lose any more points”

MotoGP: Rossi: “Austin? We know how to reach the podium"

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The upcoming exam is going to be a challenging one, at a track where Marc Marquez has always dominated. Valentino Rossi knows this well, but despite the Spaniard's performance, the Italian remains in high spirits, particularly following his second-place finish in Argentina two weeks ago.

And it is from there that #46 intends to start: “It was a great emotion to stand on the podium again in Argentina, after such a long wait for me, the team, and also the fans. But now we need to focus on the next Grand Prix. We know that Austin is a tricky track. Maybe it’s the most difficult and technical track of the MotoGP season, but in the previous years it wasn’t so bad for me.

The Yamaha rider recalls past races: “In the last few years I felt good, and though I didn’t arrive on the podium last year, I did in 2017. So, we have to do it like we did then: work well, ride well, follow the right direction, and then we’ll see”.

On the other side of the garage, Maverick Vinales attempts to put the recent past behind him, the Rio Hondo weekend having brought disappointment, or rather a crash, resulting from contact with Morbidelli: “The first thing I want to say is that I arrive in Austin in a good physical condition after the crash in Argentina, and that is the most important thing. Luckily, I didn’t hurt myself and I can say that I’ll start the third round of the calendar with full strength. Austin is a track that I really like and where I’ve always felt very good on the bike. I have very good memories of the Circuit of the Americas, so I’m going to try to enjoy the Grand Prix as much as I can."

Vinales knows that he needs to send a clear message after two rather bitter opening events: “We will try to change the small things we’ve found at the last round in order to be able reach the podium, that is our main goal. We have to give our 100% to lose no more points and move upwards in the classification."   

Translated by Heather Watson
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