Valentino Rossi is not having an easy time and it is even one of the worst of his prolific career which many like to point out is in its twilight. Starting with its former chief engineer Jeremy Burgess, on whose land the next Grand Prix, Australia, will take place. And it is true that the hard work done is not paying off at the moment. Another failure on the beloved Phillip Island route would undoubtedly have a negative impact on the Doctor. All the more reason to stick your nose in the bubble…
It's a stubborn fact that sticks to him in the preliminary to this Australian meeting: for the first time since 2012, Valentino Rossi did not finish in the top six after three consecutive races. An observation that he can only endorse: “ we haven't been fast enough in the last two races, but we are working hard ", said Valentino Rossi, eighth in Aragón then Buriram and victim of abandonment following a fall at Motegi. In the championship standings he fell to seventh place. Last weekend in Japan, the revelation and debutant fabio quartararo overtook him in the provisional general classification of the championship. It will be recalled that the Frenchman rides with a Yamaha satellite of the Petronas team.
At Phillip Island, Red boasts six victories in the premier class and two other achievements in the 250cc category. He is therefore the most successful driver. “ It's a track that I really like “, he declared before the 17th confrontation of the season. “ I hope I can show a good race. We have to work hard to be competitive from the start. We will do our best »
Regardless of the result, the 40-year-old driver will take another step forward in his impressive career on Sunday: his 400ème Grand Prix. Of these, he won 115 times and finished 353 races in the points. Incidentally, the “Dottore” is the only rider to have won on a 500cc two-stroke motorcycle as well as on 3, 990 and 800cc four-stroke engines…
