On this Friday June 18, 2021, Valentino Rossi answered questions from journalists from the Sachsenring circuit, at the end of the first day of the German Grand Prix.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the Italian pilot's words.
As usual, we report here the words of Valentino Rossi without the slightest formatting.
Valentino Rossi : “it was very difficult because it was hot. It's never been this hot in Germany in the history we've raced here. So in the afternoon, we tried other tires, others front and others rear. During my second outing, my pace wasn't so bad because I was able to stay in a small 22, but unfortunately, at the end of the run, I suffered a small fall at turn #1. This made me lose confidence and I also had to change bikes. It's a shame because I felt better with the other bike. Afterwards, for the time attack, I made a mistake in the last sector. Without that, I could have done a little better. But anyway, it's very difficult because everyone is very fast and very close. I'm losing a little too much in the third sector and I have to work and progress there. We'll see tomorrow. »
You used a new electronic throttle. Can you tell us about it?
“Yes, we tried this throttle grip during the test in Barcelona and the objective for this electronic grip was to have the same feeling as with the old one. And we had exactly the same feeling as with the old one, so we used it here. It's exactly the same thing. I'm not sure why (we use that). Maybe to reduce the weight a little. But the feeling is exactly the same as with the other one. »
After your career in MotoGP, when that happens, do you imagine yourself participating in other championships?
“As I always said, when I finish MotoGP, I want to race in cars. I have had some experience in rallying, because I am a rally fanatic, and I have also done world championship races, but for me rallying is ultimately difficult because it is very demanding and I want to race on a circuit. I prefer it and I like it more. I have had experiences in GT3 races. It's an important and interesting category because there are a lot of important brands, like Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, Aston-Martin. So I think I will race with these kind of cars when I stop MotoGP. But honestly, I don't know in which championship because there are several, between the endurance championship, the 24 hours and many races. But I hope to race there. »
Normally you have to be very careful in turn 11 because of the temperature drop in the right side tire. With temperatures this high, does that allow you to attack more?
“First of all, we improved the situation because the tire is asymmetrical and much softer on the right: you feel the front better. But like you said, with higher temperatures you have less problems and you can take turn 11 a little faster. We still have to be careful because the circuit layout is very strange, but you can take this corner a little faster. »
We saw a big drop at turn 12: do you think this is due to the fact that you go faster in turn 11?
“In turn 12 it's always difficult, and it's even more critical with this temperature because it's at the bottom of the descent and it's a left turn. The tire has been through a lot of left turns before and there is a bump in this corner in the braking zone, so if you make a mistake or go a little wide you take the bump and it's easy to lose the front. »
Standings for FP2 of the MotoGP German Grand Prix at Sachsenring:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
