MotoGP Australia J3: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha/8) helpless in the battle of the ragpickers

For his 400^e Grand Prix, Valentino Rossi would undoubtedly have wanted a result other than this eighth place taken at the end of the Australian Grand Prix. A Phillip Island track that he dominated on eight occasions in his prolific career. But these are vestiges of a bygone time, because now the Doctor no longer plays up front. And when he finds himself in the lead, he no longer holds the position. It started off very well this Sunday, but the performance fizzled out. Vale explains why and his speech is not surprising…

Valentino Rossi made an illusion for a few laps at the start of the race in Australia before falling into line. A frustration for the one who counts now 400 Grand Prix while his teammate Casa Particular in Viñales led the debates for most of the time, before making a mistake by wanting to counterattack on a Marc Márquez who had just taken the lead on the last lap.

Well qualified in fourth place, the Yamaha official had high hopes for this competition. He comments: “ I had a good time in qualifying this morning, then I started the race well. I had a very good start and it was a very good way to celebrate my 400th Grand Prix to stay a little ahead. But in the end the result wasn't fantastic, even if I wasn't too far from Jack Miller who finished on the podium and I was able to drive better and be more competitive than during the last weekends. I rode pretty well, but I was slow on the straight. At each lap, I was overtaken, then I had difficulty responding " said Valentino Rossi at the microphone of Sky Sport.

« In the end there wasn't a very good result, but this weekend we found a good balance when braking and entering corners. In the second half of the race we had a drop in grip, as has been the case since mid-season and we still haven't found a way to resolve these problems. » regrets the Doctor.

With a Morbidely only eleventh, the native of Tavullia consoled himself with the performance of another of his students from the academy, Pecco Bagnaia, good fourth on the Ducati GP18 and missed the podium by nothing to the great joy of the teammate Jack Miller : " Pecco was great, he drove well, he needed a good race. . Next meeting, next weekend, in Malaysia.

MotoGP Australia J3: standings

1	Marc Márquez	SPA	Repsol Honda (RC213V)	40m 43.729s
2	Cal Crutchlow	GBR	Honda LCR (RC213V)	+ 11.413s
3	Jack Miller	AUS	Bow Ducati (GP19)	+ 14.499s
4	Francis Bagnaia	ITA	Bow Ducati (GP18) *	+ 14.554s
5	Joan mir	SPA	Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) *	+ 14.817s
6	Andrea Iannone	ITA	Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)	+ 15.280s
7	Andrea Dovizioso	ITA	Ducati Team (GP19)	+ 15.294s
8	Valentino Rossi	ITA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	+ 15.841s
9	Alex Rins	SPA	Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)	+ 16.032s
10	Aleix Espargaró	SPA	Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)	+ 16.590s
11	Franco Morbidelli	ITA	Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)	+ 24.145s
12	Pol Espargaro	SPA	Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16)	+ 26.654s
13	Johann zarco	FRA	Honda LCR (RC213V)	+ 26.758s
14	Karel Abraham	CZE	Real Avintia Ducati (GP18)	+ 44.912s
15	Hafiz Syahrin	MAL	Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)	+ 44.968s
16	Jorge Lorenzo	SPA	Repsol Honda (RC213V)	+ 66.045s
	Maverick Vinales	SPA	Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)	DNF
	Mika Kallio	END	Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16)	DNF
	Tito Rabat	SPA	Real Avintia Ducati (GP18)	DNF
	fabio quartararo	FRA	Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) *	DNF
	Danilo Petrucci	ITA	Ducati Team (GP19)	DNF