This post-qualifying press conference for the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin brought together Marc Márquez, Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow, Marcel Schrötter and Niccolò Antonelli.
As usual, we report here the raw words of Valentino Rossi, without the slightest journalistic interpretation.
Valentino, this is your best performance in the United States since Laguna Seca in 2009. It was a very good day for you and it was already good yesterday. You must be delighted…
Valentino Rossi : “yes, yes, of course because I was already pretty good in Argentina, but today I was perhaps even stronger. I feel good on the bike. It's been a strange day because this morning, we waited, waited, waited, but we didn't make FP3. And after the tornado, it was hard to know what to expect for qualifying. Fortunately, the track conditions have improved a lot and the track dried very quickly. But in my case, FP4 was also very important because I was able to do a few laps with the slick tires to understand certain points, and in particular to have a good feeling with the bike. It's very good to be on the front line. From Argentina, we work well on the bike but also with the tires. During all the sessions, I was quite strong. So we’ll see.”
We saw a fantastic slow motion at turn 10. Was it due to the humidity patch or also the wind?
“Yes, some have told me about it. I was on my first tire, I think in front of Cal, but I came out of the corner a little bit, a bit like Maverick did in FP4, and I lost control a bit coming into turn 10. But at turn 10 I took a patch of moisture, so I lost control, and it was very fast and very scary (laughs). But that's OK ".
“At turn 10 I think I hit a wet patch” – @ValeYellow46 🎙️
It looked like a big moment for Vale but he doesn't seem fazed! 👍#AmericasGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/iegsOGT8go
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 13, 2019
You called a physiotherapist for your shoulder in your box. Did you have a problem?
“Yes, I had a problem in FP4 because I hadn't warmed up my shoulder before the session since we didn't do FP3. I stayed in bed waiting, and maybe that's why. But I don’t have any particular problem.”
What do you think of MotoGP in Mexico?
“Yes, Mexico is great. It's a very beautiful place, very fun, but for us the circuit is very important. It must be good, in good condition, and in particular have a good level of security. If we put this together, we will come, that’s for sure.”
It seems that the Yamaha is less shaken on this circuit than the other bikes, for example at turn 10. Is this due to the settings or the bike as a whole?
“I haven't specifically seen the images from today, but generally the strong point of our bike is stability. Elsewhere we have other problems, but the bike is very stable, and on this track, in my opinion, we have been strong in recent years also because the bike is quite good on the bumps. I think that’s probably the characteristic of the M1.”
Why do you only do one fast lap during qualifying?
“For me, it's difficult to do a second lap because by then we've already lost a bit of grip. So I try to be 2% focused on the first lap, because if I drive well, I have a little more potential. For me, it’s difficult to improve in the 100nd round.”
Before, you said that the season only started when you arrived in Europe. For what ?
“Now I no longer agree that the championship starts in Europe. Maybe I was wrong a few years ago (laughs). You know, Europe is good because we know the circuits very well and it's also a little more comfortable because you can get there in 2 or 3 hours without having the time difference. So the whole weekend is easier to approach. But that's not true: the championship begins in Qatar, and honestly I really like these 3 circuits before Europe. So you have to give it your all. What has changed in recent years is the level of professionalism in MotoGP. Especially the pilots are really athletes, so you have to train a lot, you have to have stage, you go to bed early and things like that (laughs). But it's good ! It's good for the championship because we are progressing. 15 years ago, and even 10 years ago, everything was more romantic and you didn't focus on all these little details like today. But I think it’s a good way to do it.”
What is the impact of missing FP3 and most of FP4?
“I agree with Mark. Of course a little bit of adjustments because if you do more kilometers on the track you can improve the small details, but more particularly the tires. Everyone uses FP4 to understand what tire choice to make and to test their race pace. And today we also lost FP3. So for all these reasons the warmup will be important tomorrow morning and it will be more difficult to make the right decision. I think it will also depend on the temperature.”
Kenny Roberts was there today. He's 67 years old and he's going to race dirt track next week. Do you see yourself doing the same thing at his age? And has he been a model for you?
“For me, Kenny Senior is one of the great names in motorcycle racing because he brought something new and special. In the USA, he rode on circuits and at the same time on flat tracks. He is one of Graziano's heroes because he said that the first time he arrived in Europe, he drove in a completely different way. So he changed this sport. The way you stand on the bike, the trajectories, your knees a lot on the ground, all these things. I remember Kenny in 2009 in Indianapolis for the Indy Mile: he was on the 750cc 2-stroke and he was very, very fast. So I think he can be fast. But I don't know if at 67 I could ride a motorcycle. Well, I hope so (laughs)! ".
What is your opinion on the new Triumph-powered Moto2?
“I remember that at the start of Moto2, I think in 2010, everyone was very worried and very angry because they said to themselves that it was production Moto2, that it was not good to prepare for the MotoGP, that the 250s were fantastic, and all that. But in a few years, I think they've done a really good job. The races are always fun to follow, and especially with the latest change to the Triumph engines, and also with more electronics, I think they are very good bikes to prepare for MotoGP. Because it's heavy and you can work a little bit on the engine braking and all those things. All the riders are happy because the engine has more torque at the bottom, and it's a little bigger and a little faster. For me, it’s a very good level.”
Ranking Qualification for the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin :
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
Photo credit : MotoGP.com
