andjim
Ny medlem
Rossi reflekterar:
"I am very satisfied with my form and fitness at this stage of the season. The highlight so far was probably my final corner victory over my team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in Barcelona although my 100th victory at Assen was also a very emotional moment and for sure one I will remember for the rest of my life.
It was a perfect race – I got a great start and my bike was incredible, which meant that my pace was very strong, and I actually think it was better for everyone’s hearts not to have another last-lap battle like in Barcelona!
Giacomo Agostini still has 21 more and for me he is still the greatest, although I think it could still be possible for me to catch him. I am happy riding and I feel in a good shape, mentally and physically. If I had to decide now I think it would be possible to stay at the top with motorcycles for another three or four years, although I will wait until next year to make a decision.
The atmosphere in our team is wonderful and the motivation is still as high as ever – we want to win a few more races together yet!
Some people have been asking me recently about my ‘new’ riding style, with my leg hanging off the side of the bike. The simple answer is that I feel when I am on the bike that it puts more weight onto the front wheel and therefore gives me more confidence going into the corner. When we have looked at the data afterwards it seems there is actually no difference and it doesn’t make me go any faster! But it definitely feels better to me so I will continue to do it, and I see some other riders are also trying it already so I am considering asking them all to pay me ten euros each time!
I also got the chance to race against some Yamaha legends on the track in a kart race at Laguna - Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, and Eddie Lawson – and I won so now I can say I beat all those great names! The kart was fun and to share the track with these great names of the past was fun and important to me. Before we started, Eddie came to me and said, ‘we go slowly, we stay all together behind Kenny to say ‘ciao’ to the crowd. And I say, OK, like an exhibition. I started slow from the pit but out of the first corner I was already alone.
Before the MotoGP race the Mayor of Monterey County came to Laguna and presented me with a certificate declaring 5th July 'Valentino Rossi Day'. I was also given the 'key' to the circuit, which was a surprising but gratifying experience. I was very grateful to the people of Monterey and the Laguna Seca track for these great honours!
I was also very happy to be invited to the Isle of Man last month and spend a day at the TT, which is something I had wanted to do for a long time but it usually coincides with the Mugello and Catalunya GPs. This time there was a free weekend between those two races so I didn’t think twice about going. I rode a lap of the circuit with Agostini and even though we weren’t pushing hard I think we still averaged at 90mph and when you think that they race at 130mph, the riders deserve huge respect.
The crash at Donington was a shame and I suppose the real mistake I made was riding for the victory, even after Jorge’s crash. But you know, this is my standard strategy and it has allowed me to win 101 races… if I rode in another way, maybe I would not have fallen, but also I would not have won so many races in my career! Anyway, the main thing is I extended my advantage at the top of the championship and also I am very happy for Dovi to win the race and for Colin to be on the podium. Colin is a friend and he rode like a devil!"
"I am very satisfied with my form and fitness at this stage of the season. The highlight so far was probably my final corner victory over my team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in Barcelona although my 100th victory at Assen was also a very emotional moment and for sure one I will remember for the rest of my life.
It was a perfect race – I got a great start and my bike was incredible, which meant that my pace was very strong, and I actually think it was better for everyone’s hearts not to have another last-lap battle like in Barcelona!
Giacomo Agostini still has 21 more and for me he is still the greatest, although I think it could still be possible for me to catch him. I am happy riding and I feel in a good shape, mentally and physically. If I had to decide now I think it would be possible to stay at the top with motorcycles for another three or four years, although I will wait until next year to make a decision.
The atmosphere in our team is wonderful and the motivation is still as high as ever – we want to win a few more races together yet!
Some people have been asking me recently about my ‘new’ riding style, with my leg hanging off the side of the bike. The simple answer is that I feel when I am on the bike that it puts more weight onto the front wheel and therefore gives me more confidence going into the corner. When we have looked at the data afterwards it seems there is actually no difference and it doesn’t make me go any faster! But it definitely feels better to me so I will continue to do it, and I see some other riders are also trying it already so I am considering asking them all to pay me ten euros each time!
I also got the chance to race against some Yamaha legends on the track in a kart race at Laguna - Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, and Eddie Lawson – and I won so now I can say I beat all those great names! The kart was fun and to share the track with these great names of the past was fun and important to me. Before we started, Eddie came to me and said, ‘we go slowly, we stay all together behind Kenny to say ‘ciao’ to the crowd. And I say, OK, like an exhibition. I started slow from the pit but out of the first corner I was already alone.
Before the MotoGP race the Mayor of Monterey County came to Laguna and presented me with a certificate declaring 5th July 'Valentino Rossi Day'. I was also given the 'key' to the circuit, which was a surprising but gratifying experience. I was very grateful to the people of Monterey and the Laguna Seca track for these great honours!
I was also very happy to be invited to the Isle of Man last month and spend a day at the TT, which is something I had wanted to do for a long time but it usually coincides with the Mugello and Catalunya GPs. This time there was a free weekend between those two races so I didn’t think twice about going. I rode a lap of the circuit with Agostini and even though we weren’t pushing hard I think we still averaged at 90mph and when you think that they race at 130mph, the riders deserve huge respect.
The crash at Donington was a shame and I suppose the real mistake I made was riding for the victory, even after Jorge’s crash. But you know, this is my standard strategy and it has allowed me to win 101 races… if I rode in another way, maybe I would not have fallen, but also I would not have won so many races in my career! Anyway, the main thing is I extended my advantage at the top of the championship and also I am very happy for Dovi to win the race and for Colin to be on the podium. Colin is a friend and he rode like a devil!"
