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Official Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi was just 2.6 seconds away from victory in the first of two Misano races after 27 laps (see race report). Rossi dueled eventual winner Franco Morbidelli (Petronas-Yamaha) for laps, but lost connection in the final third of the race.
In the final stages, Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac-Ducati) first and Joan Mir (Suzuki) overtook Rossi on the last lap, who narrowly missed the podium.
“There were only two kilometers to go,” Rossi said after a possible podium. But the bottom line was that there was good humor in Rossi. In addition to Rossi’s good performance, this was mainly due to the fact that two proteges from the VR46 finished at the front. The work of the academy is paying off.
Joan Mir prevents a perfect Sunday for VR46
“I’m very happy on the one hand, on the other hand it was a shame for the podium. If I had finished on the podium here in Misano and shared it with Franco and Pecco, it would have been incredible,” said Rossi.
Exciting final phase: Valentino Rossi fighting for the podium
Photo: Motorsport Images
“During the race, when I drove behind Franco and then passed Pecco, I thought this academy was not a good idea (laughs; editor’s note),” Rossi jokes. “On the other hand, we are very proud of the work our drivers do.”
“It’s a shame that I was ahead of myself on the last lap. It was very fast. It’s a real shame. But the weekend was still good. The race was good. I drove well and was strong all the time. Unfortunately, I had some small ones. problems with the front and rear during the race. Franco drove better and was able to get away from me, “said Rossi, praising Morbidelli’s performance.
VR46 riders bring great emotions to Valentino Rossi
Two protégés of the VR46 Academy have already won the Moto2 race. Rossi’s half brother Luca Marini won ahead of his VR46 teammate Marco Bezzecchi. “We are very proud of our riders. The Moto2 race was incredible. It is unforgettable for us. It was hard for the heart to bear when Luca and Marco fought each other (laughs; editor’s note). That the team achieves incredible,” he praises to your team.
“It is also very good that Franco and Pecco were in the lead. It’s a shame I didn’t make it. It was still great,” said Rossi, who was delighted with the presence of the fans. A maximum of 10,000 viewers per day was approved.
VR46 duo on the podium: Francesco Bagnaia (left) finished second behind Franco Morbidelli (right)
Photo: GP-Fever.de
“It was a great feeling to have the fans here for the first time this season. Almost everyone was dressed in yellow. That made a great feeling. I think it’s a step. I hope we’re back in the race.” – To be able to return to normal life on weekends because everything has changed a lot. Thanks for your support. It’s always something special, ”Rossi said happily.
Yamaha finds its old strength in Misano
Compared to Austrian racing, Yamaha performed in much stronger condition at Misano. Why was this so? “Yamaha was very strong this weekend. The circuit does not have long straights that can cause us problems. Also, the circuit is quite complicated and bumpy. It is very narrow. There are many corners that are difficult,” analyzes number 46.
“The track has a lot of grip, but there are bumps. In these conditions our bike is good because it is very stable. Of course we also had to work and lower the bike and open the damping. But it looks like the others The manufacturers had more problems with that, but Pecco, Mir and Rins were also very fast in the race, “says Rossi. With Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki, three manufacturers took the podium.
There is another opportunity in Misano next weekend. “I think we can keep improving. There are three or four things that we can do better for next week. Then we have another chance. That makes me happy, because we can try again,” Rossi said. in the second home race.
Valentino Rossi is happy to finally be able to drive again in front of the spectators
Photo: Motorsport Images
While Rossi and Morbidelli showed good races, Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Vinales had some problems in the race. Quartararo crashed twice and lost the championship lead to Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso. Viñales could not take advantage of his pole position and finished sixth. Why can’t Vinales confirm his qualifying results in the races?
Why Maverick Vinales Has Racing Problems
“It depends on the DNA of the driver,” explains Rossi. “Maverick is great in qualifying. That goes for testing too. He can always get very good lap times. He drives impressive lap times. That seems to be his strong point. Compared to Maverick, however, I always have problems in the grade”. . “
Maverick Vinales could not stay in the leading group
Photo: Motorsport Images
“He is always in front of me. It is not easy to improve. You have to feel something deep for that. But throughout my career I have struggled in qualifying and I was stronger in the races. I usually get the best of it. me on Sunday afternoons. ” Performance. It’s very good for me, “Rossi said.
“But in this case there was a technical difference, because Maverick was driving on the hard tire. I wanted to start on the hard tire too, because it worked very well. The medium tire was riskier for today. But ten minutes before that.” I switched to medium tires after talking to my team, “reports Rossi.” That made the difference today. “
With images from Motorsport Images.
