“I had a problem that hasn’t happened in 12 years …”

11/08/2020 World

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Valentino Rossi had a crazy desire to get back on his Yamaha, to the point that the Italian was ready to start the European Grand Prix weekend only on Saturday after recovering from COVID-19.

However, this enthusiasm was not enough to interrupt the long zero streak that characterized the second part of his season. Between the absence due to the Coronavirus, the falls and the technical problems, the one that arrived in Valencia was the sixth consecutive stop of the “Doctor”, who silently watched his M1 just 5 laps away.

“When the bike stopped, I didn’t even get mad. It made me laugh,” he tried to downplay Valentino, when asked about the umpteenth bad day.

“I just needed to do the race, so I started very calm, because I wanted to try to get to the bottom, do the kilometers and prepare well for the race next week. Instead, it was not possible and I stopped, it was a problem that did not happen. for 12 years they have told me, “he added.

Given the continuing problems related to the Yamaha engine, including the sanction remedied by the valves used in the Spanish Grand Prix and the development limitations planned for 2021, the Pesaro-born was asked if for the Iwata manufacturer it was not the if you look back to 2021 and maybe switch from inline four cylinders to a V engine.

“I don’t think the problem is that the engine is a four in line. For many years it has been said that this could be the problem of Yamaha, because it is an engine concept somewhat older than the V type.” But Suzuki also has a four in line and it goes very fast. “

“The problem is that we have a difficulty in performance, because on the straight we are always the slowest, to which there is also a reliability problem. Instead, you generally only have one of these two problems, or you lack performance or you lack. Reliability. We are both missing. It is as if the others had advanced in engineering ”, explained.

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However, someone has also questioned the drivers, given the many ups and downs of which Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo manage to become protagonists, who will form the duo of the factory team next year. However, according to the nine-time world champion, this is not the problem.

“Yamaha has great riders. If we take me out, because I don’t want to talk about myself, Quartararo, Viñales and Morbidelli are very strong. With a competitive bike the World Championship is played. I don’t think the riders are the problem and I think the Yamaha is also very strong for next year. “

In the opinion of many, it was also the rear tire introduced this year by Michelin that generated this strange trend for the 2020 season. But for Rossi, the situation at Yamaha has not changed much compared to 2019 in reality.

“It doesn’t seem very different to me, in the sense that it is very similar to us. The times we tried it last year it seemed a bit better to me, because it has more grip, but it’s softer so the problem is being able to do it. last the whole race. “

“Not much has changed since last year, because we had more or less the same problems. It is as if in recent years others have understood something about the tires and we have not achieved it. I would stick with these anyway, because I do not think so”. that would change a lot for us. “

Finally, he gave a thought to his friend Davide Brivio for the feat that Suzuki is about to achieve, which is one step away from regaining the premier class title after 20 years. And he could do it with a double in the Drivers’ World Championship.

“I congratulate Davide Brivio, but also his brother. We are friends because we work very hard together. They did a great job, because they managed to merge the Japanese with the Italian method. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Suzuki is going so fast, so I really congratulate him. “