"How did it go? Bad". There’s nothing much more to add on a day in which nothing went right for Valentino Rossi. While last weekend at Misano, he had broken away with Morbidelli and had toyed with the idea of the podium up to a few corners from the flag, today the Doctor crashed on lap 2. He then tried to rejoin the race but retired before the end.
“We arrived in a group at turn 4 and I must have done something wrong - he said - I pinched the brake lever by mistake. Sometimes it happens, it seems to me that the last time it happened to me was in a warm-up a few years ago. Unfortunately today I was leaning over a lot and I was screwed ”.
Despite everything, Valentino picked himself up and got back on the bike…
"I wanted to continue because we were aware of the changes on the bike and I wanted to see my pace - he continued - I realized I didn't have any grip on the rear, I wasn't fast, even if it's difficult to find concentration and motivation after a crash".
The Riders Academy riders had no luck this Sunday…
“It was a difficult day, this is life and this is racing - summed up Valentino - Franco had a problem with Aleix, then I crashed and finally Pecco. It was a tough blow for him, it was awesome the way he rode, he could have won and it would have been an unforgettable day for him, it was a strange crash. This Sunday took away everything we did last week, Vietti and Bezzecchi saved us from a disaster ”.
The crash also distanced Rossi from the top of the championship, even if it remains a very short ranking: he is now 9th but just 26 points behind Dovizioso.
“Today I lost points, but it doesn’t change much - he commented - We are all close in the standings, anything can still happen but I have to try to improve. Today I was missing grip in the race, I wouldn't have been very competitive anyway, not enough to fight for the championship. Even though I can't know exactly what my potential was because my race only lasted a lap and a half, I was more competitive last week. We made some changes to the bike to improve acceleration, until yesterday they seemed to work, but today I suffered more ”.
Things are not looking as good now…
"I managed to set a good time in qualifying, but although the World Championship is all to play for I have to be faster - admitted the Doctor - Now I will use the next few days to rest because this double race at Misano, together with the tests, was tough both from a psychological and physical point of view. However, it's good to get back to racing right away, and Barcelona is a track I like and I was fast last year, before the accident with Lorenzo. We will see, we will find a different asphalt than the one in Misano and lower temperatures than usual ”.