This Friday September 17, 2021, Valentino Rossi answered questions from journalists from the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, at the end of the first day of the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
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 : " Today the conditions were very difficult but the good thing is that we tried the track and its asphalt in all conditions, dry and wet. In the wet we had enough time to do a good job on the bike, to understand where we are struggling and try to improve, and in the end it was pretty good. Unfortunately, in the dry it is very difficult to understand our potential because, after half an hour, the rain came and we could not finish the session. So we don't know. I really only drove a few laps and we have to wait until tomorrow. »
There are many rumors about a Moto2 team that you would collaborate with Yamaha...
« The situation in Moto2 for next year is not yet very clear. The situation for this year is that we already have a Moto2 team, together with Yamaha, in CEV. We have a good organization to help progress young Yamaha riders, who mainly come from Asia. Speaking with Lin (Jarvis), they want to get to the MotoGP world championship. So we are talking, because we have already been together for two or three years, but currently I don't know what will happen and if we will do the project together. I don't know very well but it's possible. »
When will you make the official announcement of your MotoGP team?
« I think we will make the team next year, yes, but I don't know when it will be official. »
Today was your first day with Andrea Dovizioso. Was it interesting to analyze his data?
« With Dovi it was very interesting because we talked a lot about the bike after the first session and after the second session. All of Dovi's comments are very interesting. But as far as the data is concerned, it's a little more difficult because he has a different bike. To ride this bike, you need a different riding style and a different way to enter corners. For example, I prefer to look at the data from Quartararo or the same bike as me, because with Dovi's bike, the braking and corner entry are different. So looking at this data is not very important. »
Fabio Quartararo complained of a lack of stability in fast corners in the wet. Is this the same for you?
« In the wet, the feeling wasn't so bad. What I feel is that we don't have very good grip at the rear, so we lose a lot, especially when accelerating. In my opinion, this is the biggest problem with the bike. Today, in the fast corners, I was pretty good, but in acceleration the situation is not fantastic. »
So it's still the same motor problem?
« Yes ! »
Does working on the future MotoGP team distract you from your work on the bike?
« For me, the biggest distraction is caused by your questions about the team (laughs)! For me it's difficult, because I lose a lot of time while I try to concentrate on myself as a driver. I still have to answer a lot of questions about my team next year, but honestly I don't know very well: I try to give a lot of news but I'm very focused on the rest. I'm not the person to talk to to understand the latest news regarding my team next year, simply because I don't follow that directly since I have to concentrate on driving. I've already said it 20 times but you continue, not you but all journalists, to ask the same questions. That's very difficult! The rest no. But we will try to manage (laughs). »
San Marino MotoGP Grand Prix FP1/FP2 results:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
