Just like his teammate Maverick Vinales, Valentino Rossi managed to save the essentials at the finish of this German Grand Prix. Namely a position always in the leading group at the world championship, just 10 points behind the new leader.
Starting ninth and arriving fifth after a difficult race during which he had to face and/or resist numerous opponents, it is therefore hardly surprising that the Italian driver lets a half-empty glass appear in his analysis one glass at a time. and half full...
Valentino Rossi : “It was a difficult weekend because we struggled a lot, as we had on other circuits this year, but fortunately we were able to work better. The race wasn't too bad, as I was able to maintain a good pace from start to finish. I'm happy when I'm fighting for the podium, but this fifth place is nevertheless quite good, because are good points for the championship and we are just ten points from the lead, so I think the championship is still very open.
Usually I'm not happy with fifth place, because I want to try to fight for the podium every week. But after this weekend, the result is not so bad. Especially because the race was very difficult, very difficult, from start to finish. I always pushed as hard as possible, with someone at “0.0” behind me. We also had a bit of bad luck because during testing I broke the right bike twice. Unfortunately we only have one chassis, so for work this was a problem. I also only started from the third row, and here it is quite difficult to overtake. If I could have started a little further forward, I think I could stay with Pedrosa and maybe fight for the podium. It's a shame because I wanted to try to fight with Maverick, try to get in front of him, because it's important for the championship. But today he was faster than me. He was better in two or three places and that's how it is.
But on the other hand, we were lucky because it was dry for the race, because in the wet we struggle more. And in a championship like this year, these are important points because sometimes you can have a great feeling, then on other tracks, like this weekend, you struggle more. So it's important to take good points. I'm happy because if we hadn't had the new chassis, I think today would have been like Jerez and Barcelona. We are able to work better on the bike and, in particular, we were able to be more competitive and have a good pace from start to finish, with the new chassis. So we are on the right path.
We have to try to get in front of the (Yamaha) satellites, but on the other hand, if you look at the championship, Maverick and I are in front of them. This means that in nine races we have scored more points than the satellite bikes.
Now I think I will relax for two weeks, and after these two weeks with my friends to recharge my batteries, I will start training again because we have to arrive 100% ready in Brno. »
Massimo Magali : “We knew today's race at Sachsenring was going to be difficult, but we were ready for the challenge. Although the skies once again appeared threatening at the start of the race, we were relatively certain that it was going to be a dry race, which was the conditions our drivers preferred to complete today's 30 laps. Our goal was to take as many points as possible and both drivers stayed true to their goals. Maverick and Vale both had a good race, and did everything possible to score important points for the championship, as the standings are very tight. Maverick did a good job, especially during the second half of the race, as he moved up from eleventh to fourth. Valentino started the race really well but unfortunately, by the time he was in fourth place, the three drivers in front were already too far behind. He did everything he could to defend his position for as long as possible against numerous opponents, and eventually took big points.
The first half of the season was very exciting, with close battles, involving many drivers and manufacturers. With the hard work of the team and drivers, we have so far achieved four victories and eight podiums. Now we are looking forward to the summer vacation. For the next four weeks we will recharge our batteries before continuing the battle for the championship in the Czech Republic. »
German Grand Prix results:
1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 40m 59.525s
2. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 41m 2.835s
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 41m 11.071s
4. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 41m 13.778s
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 41m 14.505s
6. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 41m 16.059s
7. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 41m 19.261s
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 41m 19.713s
9. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 41m 20.663s
10. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 41m 23.735s
11. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 41m 25.184s
12. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 41m 31.065s
13. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 41m 31.704s
14. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 41m 35.978s
15. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 41m 37.296s
16. Mika Kallio FIN Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 41m 37.377s
17. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 41m 38.848s
18. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 41m 40.715s
19. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 41m 59.375s
20. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 42m 1.189s
21. Alex Rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 42m 1.220s
Provisional ranking of the World Championship:
1 Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 129 points
2 Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 124
3 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 123
4 Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 119
5 Dani PEDROSA-Honda 103
6 Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 84
7 Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 71
8 Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 66
9 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 65
10 Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 64
11 Alvaro BAUTISTA-Ducati 44
12 Jack MILLER-Honda 41
13 Scott REDDING-Ducati 33
14 Aleix ESPARGARO-Aprilia 32
15 Loris BAZ-Ducati 31
16 Andrea IANNONE 28
17 Tito RABAT 23
18 Hector BARBERA 21
19 Karel ABRAHAM 20
20 Pol ESPARGARO 14
21 Bradley SMITH 8
22 Alex RINS 7
23 Michele PIRRO 7
24 Sam LOWES 2
25 Sylvain GUINTOLI 1
