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MotoGP, Rossi convinced the crash doesn't change much for the championship because he wasn’t fast

"I accidentally pinched the brake lever with the bike leaning, but I wasn’t as competitive as last Sunday. Too bad for Bagnaia, Vietti and Bezzecchi’s podiums saved us"

MotoGP: Rossi convinced the crash doesn't change much for the championship because he wasn’t fast

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"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 ”.

 

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