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Exclusive interview with Graziano Rossi. His experience with Team Daba Drift, his passion for rallying, Yamaha's difficulties and the future of Valentino Rossi.
At 64 years old, Graziano Rossi is still a river in full force. After a life as a motorcyclist and rally driver, Valentino Rossi's father continues to have fun with Davide Bannò's Team Daba Drift, an experience that takes him to Italy to try his hand at the difficult art of drifting . It is an authentic book of stories and legends that we quickly consulted, discussing the past, the present and the future...
Tell us about the experience with Team Daba Drift: how is this automotive collaboration going?
“It’s very good, because they are very well organized. Davide Bannò has some really nice cars and these drift events are a lot of fun; there are lots of people to see and there are beautiful places to go.”
Do you continue with two wheels?
“On the circuits, no. I go on dirt tracks, on dirt tracks, with an all-terrain motorcycle sometimes, but not often, because each time there is the risk of gliding and getting hurt. I try to go on a motorbike as little as possible.”
Have you passed on your passion for rallying to Valentino?
“Yes, of course, when I was testing rally cars, he was always very interested, very fast. Besides, he drove very hard even before he got his license, when he was 15-16 years old, he is very good at rallying.”
Valentino has renewed in MotoGP until 2020. How many chances does he have to win the title and what is he missing?
“He has the chance to play it this year, I think he will have it next year and also in two years, with his passion and his desire to prepare and stay in shape. In my opinion for a few more years he can try, then whether he wins it or not, it also depends on luck. This year he is very competitive. The problem is a Yamaha which is not yet at the level of the other three brands and so it takes a bit of luck, that things go in the right direction.
Why do you think Yamaha's technicians fell behind on electronics?
“Because Yamaha technicians are less bandits than the others and a little slower, and when Ducati and Honda went to poach Magneti Marelli technicians, it was a somewhat forbidden gesture, a forbidden gesture that Yamaha did not not thought to do, because they are more honest.
Did you expect to see Jorge Lorenzo at Honda? What can we expect from the 2019 World Cup?
“No, it was a big surprise. Let's expect a World Championship as if there was always a Pedrosa in good shape, because Dani, in each championship, has a few races where he goes strong, but it is not continuous. Lorenzo, on the other hand, will be fast in all races, so two competitive riders at Honda will be like managing one, I don't think it will be more difficult, on the contrary. A team that has two top drivers has an easier time achieving results.”
Alessio Salucci has been an inseparable friend of Valentino since a young age. As a parent, what is the first memory of the two of you together?
“I remember when they were playing with the scooter behind the walls of Tavullia, and they were always together. Then they left Tavullia, and sometimes even the carabinieri became alarmed. They never went to prison so they had a lucky childhood in that respect.”
Will we take as much pleasure in seeing him manage the VR46 team in the premier category from 2021?
“Don’t believe it, Valentino will continue to race, with cars.”
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