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Valentino Rossi has the same smiling look as a rider who signed his first MotoGP contract, the only difference is that this morning he signed up to race what will be his 22nd season in the premier class.. In 2000 he debuted in 500 with a satellite team and next year it will be like closing the circle wearing the Petronas colors.
“I am very proud of this decision, I wanted to continue racing. – he says – This year my plan was to understand if I was still competitive but it was different. I’ve been in the factory team for a long time, since 2004, but this step is good for me and I have Lin Jarvis and Yamaha to thank for providing direct support. In the end it will not change much, only the colors of the bike, Petronas is a high-level team that has already achieved important results “.
How did this decision come about?
“In a normal situation, I would have asked Yamaha to wait until the Mugello race, because last year I often got into trouble, I didn’t feel good on the bike, I wasn’t fast enough to stay on top. At my age you ask yourself certain questions, especially when you see that you are 7 years older than the second oldest driver (walk). meYou start to think that maybe it’s time to stay home. But in my heart I knew it wasn’t like that. Of course, it is not like 10 years ago when I won 10 races per season, but if you are physically well, it is the motivations that make the difference. That is precisely why he had decided to change his foreman”.
But then you discovered that there would be no more room for you in the factory equipment.
“One day Lin called me and told me that she had to come to Tavullia to talk to me, I realized that it was not good news. I always say that he came to say goodbye (walk). I expected it, Quartararo last year had had incredible results and I realized that it would be difficult for me to keep the place. Then Lin broke the news to me and I immediately replied that Yamaha would have to do a very official third party, I pushed him a bit and he said yes.. We started working on this project right away”.
You will have Morbidelli by your side.
“It will be nice to be with Franco, nobody would have believed us if they had told us only 5 years ago. I’m happy to be able to work with him and improve ourselves “.
How do you continue to have this enthusiasm at 41?
“Maybe it can be a lesson for other riders, the proof that you can continue competing in MotoGP for a long time. I still enjoy being here, this is my life. The passion for motorcycles was born in me when I was 2 years old and it remains the same, that’s what makes the difference. My dad Graziano put me in motion when I was very little, it was not normal in those days, I think I was the first of the generation of pilots who started very early. I think Graziano enjoyed seeing the disasters he could do (laughs). Now, in MotoGP, there is a lot of pressure, you have to lead life as an athlete and it is not easy but I still feel that particular taste when I get on the bike, I am happy. When you lose that feeling everything becomes more difficult”.
So why did it take so long to sign?
“I was having fun (walk). The truth is, we were not in a hurry, I told Jerez that I would race 99% with Petronas in 2021, things were done for me but there were many things to fix in a three-party contract..
Won’t it be strange to be on a different team with different people?
“northIt doesn’t worry me, first of all because the heart of my team will be the same, with Muñoz and Flamigni. Unfortunately Alex and Brent will not be there and I am sad about that, but it was not possible to take them with me. So I know a lot of people who work well at Petronas: Zeelenberg was on the Yamaha factory team, I raced together with Stigefelt in the 1994 European Championship and Roger, who takes care of logistics, was with me at the time of Honda. It will be like being at home “.
Speaking of teams, when will VR46 enter MotoGP, perhaps with Yamaha?
“I’ve already talked to Jarvis about motorcycles, why not? But first we will have to decide whether to enter MotoGP, maybe there is an opportunity in 2022, but it would be a big step. We’ll see”.
How will you feel on a satellite team?
“It will be like in 500 at Nastro Azzurro, a satellite team with an official motorcycle. They told me that I was the only one who had won a premier class title in a satellite team, that means I will try again next year. (walk)”.
Meanwhile, you are back in the front row in Barcelona.
“It was a good Saturday, I felt good since yesterday, immediately competitive, and today I improved the bike and riding even more. In FP4 I kept a good pace and in qualifying I managed to give my best without making mistakes “.
What do you expect from the race?
“The choice of tires will be very important, I will do it tomorrow after the warm-up, hoping that it does not rain tonight. Soft is better at the start of the race, but medium ensures greater consistency. We’ll see”.
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