[ad_1]
We started last Sunday: the first question that the interviewer from Dorna asks Valentino Rossi is about the San Marino GP.
“It was certainly an unforgettable day for those who work at the Academy. I am proud and happy for my brother (Luca Marini, NDA), for Bezzecchi, for Morbidelli and for Bagnaia: if I had managed to get on the podium it would have been a historic day. Too bad Mir was ahead of me, but it was a good race, I managed to keep a good pace: in the end I had some problems. I did my best to get on the podium, I managed to keep Rins behind, but Mir was faster. The podium is always something special, here it is even more so and with Franco and Pecco it would have been incredible… Now we have another chance: it will be even more difficult, many riders and bikes will be even more competitive, but we will try.
When the Academy was born, in 2014, would you have imagined playing a GP in 2020 with your students?
“Honestly, no: when we started we weren’t sure what to expect. Then when Morbidelli won the Moto2 title in 2017, I started to think that he would have a strong rival in MotoGP from the Academy ”.
What was Morbidelli’s strong point in the last GP?
“I know Franco very well, we often ride together, I know his style and how he drives. On Sunday he was in great shape, he made no mistakes, he was very strong braking, he kept a great pace throughout the GP. His was a great race. This year he is training very hard and it is a problem for all of us in the academy: at 9 in the morning he is already putting pressure on us ”.
What can you say about the tests?
“Positive. We worked hard, we did many laps, trying new things: something went worse, something better.”
Will you use any novelty in this GP?
“Yes, we should test the exhaust, and if we use it, you will notice immediately … and the carbon swingarm.”
How do you feel about the system to lower the bike at the start and during the lap?
“The feeling is not bad, but it is not that easy to handle, it is one more thing to do. At the beginning it is a bit strange, you have to do more kilometers to understand how it works ”.
In a championship like this, can experience count more than speed?
“There are nine riders at 33 points: normally at this point in the championship the second in the standings is at 33 points, not the ninth. This gives great motivation and certainly experience is important, but speed is even more important. I’m not far off in the standings (18 points, NDA), but to fight for the title I have to be faster ”.
Can it be compared to 2000? What adjective would you use to define this championship?
“Crazy, very balanced. Yes, it reminds me of the year 2000, when many riders with very similar bikes won: 5 Honda, 4 or 5 Yamaha, 2 factory Suzuki very close. Even now there are many different drivers and manufacturers who are doing very well. “
Is it true that you are negotiating with Ducati for Luca Marini?
“Yes, they are talking to Ducati and Avintia: it would be a great opportunity to go to MotogP with Ducati, because it pushes a lot in this project and believes in young riders. It would be nice, but now the priority is the Moto2 championship: Luca has to think about that ”.
How do you handle the pressure?
It depends a lot on the pressure to push: in this championship it is a good motivation, because you start from home and you think you can fight for the title. An athlete has to handle the pressure: sometimes you succeed, sometimes less, it is not always the same. Much also depends on how strong you are at the time. Let’s say pressure is a bad feeling, but you like to have it. “
Will the helmet be the same as last week?
“Yes, but with one less pill …”.
Among your many helmets, where do you put it?
“The most beautiful is still the one from 2009 with my face in Mugello, but this is a podium.”
[ad_2]
