This post-qualifying press conference for the TT Assen Grand Prix brought together Andrea Dovizioso, Valentino Rossi, Scott Redding, Thomas Lüthi and Enea Bastianini.
In order to avoid any abusive journalistic interpretation, we offer you here a “raw” translation of all of Valentino Rossi’s words.
You did not use intermediaries. It was probably the right decision...
“Yes, you know, qualifying is always difficult, always tricky, with these conditions everything changes, especially here in Assen where in 5 minutes the track conditions are completely different. Asphalt dries incredibly quickly. And the conditions were also different between qualifying and free practice.
With my team we decided to start at the beginning and go to the end, but after 3 laps I had already understood that I was there and that it was very difficult to improve because the rear was already moving a lot because some places on the track were completely dry, and the wet tire suffers a lot in these conditions.
so I took a risk because I was 8th or 9th, I don't remember, and I hoped to be able to do two laps, but maybe only one, and ultimately it was the right choice (to do it) with another rain tire. Because for me, it was too early for the intermediaries; and it worked so I'm very happy. Yes, it’s a shame about pole, but it’s very important to start on the front row.”
Your pace in the dry was good…
“Yes, I hope it will be dry because I can be competitive there. This morning it was pretty good, we improved the settings and I also have good speed with the hard rear tire. At the end, I passed the tender and I was 4th but close to Dovi. But you know, you have to wait, see the conditions, and we hope that if it’s wet we can be competitive in the rain as well.”
How do you understand the evolution of grip which changes lap after lap?
“It's difficult because when you arrive you have to leave some space in your mind to think about the track conditions. So you have to remember the previous lap, it's something you do gradually, it's something you see, when you arrive, usually there is a part of the track that dries faster, whereas it rained a little more in other parts and that the rain may stay there. Of course it's not easy, it's something that can make a big difference, especially in these sorts of conditions, and especially if tomorrow's race is 50/50 or Flag to Flag. Then you also need to be lucky; make the right choices, return to the box at the right time. So it’s a whole thing.”
Yesterday you went to the Security Commission. What were your wishes for Assen and Barcelona?
“Yes, we talked about Assen; 2 or 3 points, like braking at the last chicane, and exiting the last chicane, where we asked for more clearance, more space. It's not easy but I think they can do something. Generally speaking, it is quite safe although very fast.
We talked about Austria, because someone tried it and said there were 2 or 3 points where we needed more clearance.
But we mainly talked about Barcelona. We haven't decided anything yet because we've made a few requests. For me, it will be very difficult to return to the old MotoGP track. I think ultimately we will use the F1 track with a few modifications. But we will be able to have the answers in the coming months and, they are going to re-surface Montmelo for next year anyway; this is already planned and it is very good. So we can also make some changes.”
Do you think intermediate tires can be an option for racing, even when changing bikes?
“Unfortunately I never tried the intermediates this season. Maybe someone has tried them once, but I don't have time to try them so I don't know the sensations. But it is already difficult to choose tires in the dry, so imagine with the dry, the wet and the intermediates. It's hard to say. For me, safety-wise, it's something good because if you look at the 2014 race, with Marquez and Dovi, they took the slicks at a time when it was really dangerous. So in this case, if you have the intermediaries, it's better for security. But after that, it depends on how wide the performance window is, because maybe you win in the first 2 or 3 rounds, but then another risk may come. It depends. For me, there is perhaps the possibility of having the intermediates in the race, yes.”
There were a lot of falls from the front. Do you think there will be many in the race tomorrow?
“The conditions during free practice were really very difficult. You were making a lot of mistakes but being very slow, because I did a lot of laps waiting for something for the front tire which never arrived, or which arrived after 7 or 8 laps. In these moments, if you attack just a little bit more, you clearly have the feeling that you are going to fall. But it depends a lot on the track conditions because during qualifying, with a little less water, the sensations were much better. So it’s a risk for everyone and we have to wait (to know) the conditions, and for the drivers, the best thing is to understand the limits of the track as quickly as possible, which is an advantage.”
All VR46 drivers qualified well today. How do you estimate their potential and will we have an Italian festival tomorrow?
“Yes, we are really happy for the team, but unfortunately Enea (Bastianini) is in the lead (laughs looking at him), unfortunately for the team and fortunately for him. We are very happy because a lot of Italian riders are leading in Moto3 and that is good because it means we are doing a good job. Half of them come from VR46 but there are also a lot of other Italian drivers who are strong, so that's good. But you know, for tomorrow, everything can change; we are hoping for a race in the dry, because, I don’t know about Enea in the wet, but we drivers, in the wet…. Mmmm (smile) are not very strong (laughs) so we hope that it will be dry at 11 o'clock and that we can have a good race.”
