Lining up in fourth position on the starting grid for the Malaysian Grand Prix, Valentino Rossi was quite confident of being able to have a good race.
His competitiveness in the dry was among the best, and even Motegi's woes seemed forgotten with a sixth time achieved in the wet on Friday afternoon.
Unfortunately, after getting off to a good start when the red lights went out, the Yamaha rider got stuck in the first two turns and, worse, was then unable to carry out one of his traditional comebacks.
It is now obvious to the Doctor that this season's bike suffers from a serious problem of lack of grip in the rain, which seriously allows him to give advice to Johann Zarco...
About the rain...
Valentino Rossi : “You know, I was worried but not desperate, because on Friday in the wet I had some problems but I was sixth, and honestly we have modified the bike a lot since then, and I was optimistic that this works. »
The consequence of the rain...
“But unfortunately I had exactly the same problem as Friday. We have no traction. It is very difficult to ride the bike, and also very dangerous, and you have the clear feeling that if you try a little harder you will crash. Like I did in Motegi. It's quite frustrating because it seems during the first 10-12 laps, I still have the same pace. I couldn't improve. So this bike is very difficult to ride in the wet. Is impossible. We have no traction. And already, driving like that, you take a lot of risks. It's a shame because we need a good result to confirm Phillip Island. And I think in the dry I was competitive because all weekend I was pretty strong. So I think I could have had a good race. Unfortunately it rained, but you need to be prepared for all conditions. I had hoped to take a step forward, compared to Motegi. But in reality, no. So this bike remains very difficult. »
Finally, Valentino Rossi returns to what he had already said in the form of a half-joke at a press conference after the race at Phillip Island (see here) ...
“For me, it's much better for Zarco if he continues to keep his bike next year! And I say that for him! »
What will Yamaha do about it next year?
Johann zarco responded today at a press conference (see here) and
Hervé Poncharal shared his opinion with us a few days ago (see here) ...
#MalaysianGP MotoGP J.3: Ranking
| 1 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 44'51.497 |
| 2 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | 0.743 |
| 3 | 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | 9.738 |
| 4 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda | 17.763 |
| 5 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | 29.144 |
| 6 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 30.38 |
| 7 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 30.769 |
| 8 | 43 | Jack Miller | Honda | 35.238 |
| 9 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 38.053 |
| 10 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 39.847 |
| 11 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | 42.559 |
| 12 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | 44.602 |
| 13 | 45 | Scott REDDING | Ducati | 48.696 |
| 14 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | Ducati | 50.058 |
| 15 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | 50.705 |
| 16 | 60 | Michael VAN DER MARK | Yamaha | 56.397 |
| 17 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | 58.391 |
| 18 | 53 | Tito RABAT | Honda | + 1'25.571 |
| Not Classified | ||||
| 22 | Sam LOWES | Aprilia | 11 lapses | |
| 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | 12 lapses | |
| 76 | Loris BAZ | Ducati | 15 lapses | |
| 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 0 laps | |
