Valentino Rossi did the right thing this Friday at Motegi, taking fifth overall at the end of the day. An essential start to the Japanese Grand Prix since the rain promises to disrupt Saturday's proceedings. That being said, before his last minute lap, which provisionally automatically put him in Q2, the Doctor was only thirteenth in a landscape where the three other Yamahas were able to lock the top 5. A gap which is widening. explains like this...
Valentino Rossi did not show himself to be the most brilliant pilot Yamaha , but that is the risk when we have decided to fight on two fronts: that of the current meeting and that of the 2020 season which we are preparing at the same time. A constant mobilization that requires energy and vigilance. OK has in the works a carbon swingarm, a new exhaust system, a new front mudguard and other new parts that need to be validated.
« In the last two Grand Prix I had huge problems with rear wheel grip » said the factory driver Yamaha . " I suffered from this problem more than other Yamaha riders. Especially with the new exhaust system, I had the impression that it was not yet up to the standard system. We need more development time, but unfortunately there's nothing you can do on a Grand Prix weekend. Because you always need maximum performance. Therefore, we will try the exhaust again this winter. The carbon swingarm makes no difference. Although it does not bring any inconvenience. »
« This first day in Japan on Friday was positive. But we must continue to work. The choice of tires is open, because it was very cold today, and it will be much warmer on Sunday. The soft tires worked well. Tomorrow we will be able to find out if we are fast in the rain... » adds equipping it with Casa Particular in Viñales, second.
We also noticed another novelty in Red... " When braking, these bikes have changed a lot and so we are trying something different to brake differently. We try different configurations with our fingers, but it is not easy to get used to it after many years, but I can do it. Braking with two fingers instead of three helps the fork not give too much load at the beginning for more linear and smooth braking. » Vale definitely leaves nothing to chance and, at 40 years old, continues to evolve...
MotoGP Japan Motegi J1: times
