This Thursday, October 21, 2021, Valentino Rossi answered questions from journalists from the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, as a prelude to the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia-Romagna.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the Italian rider who is racing here for the last time at home, at least as a regular MotoGP rider…
As usual, we report here the words of Valentino Rossi without the slightest formatting.
Valentino, you are participating this weekend in your 430th Grand Prix, which will be the last in Italy. What do you feel ?
Valentino Rossi : " It's a bit of a strange situation because it's the second time here in Misano. The second race is always special because normally we only come once, but during the last two, because of the health situation, we learned to stay on the circuits for more than one race. I think it's a very good opportunity to say goodbye to the Italian fans, so it's very good to race here in Misano, at my home circuit. I hope we can have a good weekend weather-wise because this period is a little more difficult in Italy, so I hope we can have a dry weekend, especially on Sunday. During the weekend, I will try as much as possible to be competitive in the race. »
You mention your fans. You have them all around the world and the stands are full of yellow. What will your message be for them?
« As you said, it's a long story: Over 400 races, that's a long career. I just have to thank everyone because I have had, and have, incredible support from all over the world. More especially in Italy, but more or less everywhere. So I always give my best and we all have fun together, because it's a long career with many great races. So we will see on Sunday but in any case we will still have two races after Misano. It's always a sad moment when you get to the end, but it was good: we had fun! »
In Austria, when you announced that you were stopping, you said that you were at peace with your decision. In an interview with Spanish media a few days ago, you said that you were a little bit paranoia thinking about the last race in Valencia. Why this change?
« No, I don't know if you read this interview but in my opinion they took part of the interview to be able to write other pages. But it's not like that: What I said in the interview was that in Austria everyone asked me how I felt, while in the end I just made it official the decision in Austria. But I had to stay focused because I had half a season left. And I said that of course it will be different in Valencia because it will be the last time on my bike and the last time on the grid. So I think it will be more emotional. In Italy, we use the word paranoia a lot, but it's a way of speaking in Italian: There's nothing so big! No, no, whatever it is I feel good. And I haven't changed my mind (laughs). »
What would be your advice to Fabio and Pecco for the fight between them in the championship?
« The difference is 52 points so I think Fabio wants to finish as quickly as possible. So he will try already on Sunday, because when it gets longer, it is always more difficult. So for sure he will try his best on Sunday. For Pecco, I already said that my advice was to do like in Misano-1: Pole position, best lap in the race and win (laughs)! That's the smartest thing I could say to Pecco (laughs). But I think it's really an excellent challenge between Pecco and Fabio. I think they deserve to fight for the championship and it's a shame that Pecco lost some points during the season. Not for Fabio, but for the people around it could have been more fun if it had been closer in terms of points. But whatever it is, that's fine.
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Is it important for you to finish this race in Misano with a good result? And what would be a good outcome?
« It's a bit difficult because there are a lot of things on the sidelines of each race, since I'm going to finish in Valencia and so everyone wants to do something special. We need a lot of time to try to manage everything well but, in the end, the problem is that I am still on the bike on track. The difficulty is trying to separate things and stay focused as much as possible, because already when you get on a MotoGP it's difficult and dangerous. You have to try to stay focused and not think that it's the last race in Misano, because it's a real race! I think the best way is to try to be competitive and try to give your best. A good result could be to stay in the top 10, even if it's not easy. »
How do you concentrate with all these demands around you?
« It's already difficult for any MotoGP rider to keep concentration during the weekend, because you have a lot of things to do, like activities with very important people, while, for the rider, the only important thing is the result of Saturday (Sunday?) afternoon. So I'm already in this situation but in a more extreme way, so you have to concentrate and think that the important thing is the result on Sunday. Then everything else comes later. You have to deal with this situation, but it's more or less the same for everyone. »
During the weekend presentation, we were able to speak with Casey Stoner. He said he learned a lot from you, on the track and how you behave with the fans. He also said that one of the reasons he quit was that he loved 2-strokes and didn't like 4-strokes. Motorcycles must have been dangerous when they were at the limit. What do you think about this ?
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I raced with Casey his entire MotoGP career because it wasn't very long. I think he came in 2006 and quit in 2012, so we've always raced together. It wasn't a long run but he showed incredible natural talent. From the first year, with the five-cylinder Honda, he was always very, very fast, so I'm very happy that I was able to fight with him, because I think he's one of the fastest and most competitive MotoGP riders. wildest in history. Regarding two-strokes, we can talk about two-strokes and four-strokes for a long time! I've raced a lot with two-strokes and it's clear that they have great charisma, seen from the outside and also when you ride them. Just with the noise, the bike is more of a racing bike: it's more of a competition sound than the four-stroke. But it's like that ! At a certain point the world changed and MotoGP changed to four-strokes, and I remember it was a shock for me and for all the riders, because we loved our 500cc two-stroke machines. It's true that when you ride these bikes at the limit, you don't feel comfortable (laughs) because it's very dangerous, especially when accelerating. But that's how it is, it's not our choice and I also like the four-stroke because the current bikes are perhaps more controllable, especially when accelerating with all the electronics, but they are incredibly fast. I think it's a normal development, but two-strokes remain in my heart and in the hearts of all motorcycle racing fans. »
What do you think of Deniz Öncü's two-race penalty?
« I think it's the right decision. I think Dorna and the people in charge understood that something had to change because the situation is a bit out of control: The races, especially in the small category, are too dangerous! Unfortunately, these things happen many times and Öncü is just the first because he caused a big accident. But many, many other drivers still move aggressively on the straights and that's very dangerous. Each driver should be monitored, also during testing, and it should be made very clear that if someone moves aside to take the slipstream of the guy in front by cutting into the path of another, he will have to stay at home. Because right now, it’s too dangerous! We must therefore be more precise and stricter. We also have to talk to the guys coming up behind and who have to cut the throttle when there are yellow flags or when they see a crash, because if you look at the images some riders from behind don't cut the throttle and use the crashes to take an advantage. This is also madness because there may be a pilot on the ground in the path! They must therefore talk and follow driver by driver throughout the season, because in my opinion there are seven or eight drivers who are more dangerous than the others and who are too aggressive. I think this (the penalty) is a good sign and I hope they continue like this because the races need to be cleaner and less dangerous. »
There is speculation in the Italian press around a possible return of Davide Brivio to MotoGP, whether at Suzuki or at your VR46. What can you say?
« I have a very good relationship with Davide Brivio because he is the man who convinced me to sign and come to Yamaha in 2004. We shared the best moments of my career together and I love him very much, especially especially his way of working: I think he is clearly the best team manager in MotoGP and he can really make the difference, as he has done at Suzuki in recent years. I still talk to him but honestly I don't know his future, if he will continue in Formula 1 or if he will return to MotoGP. But not with us, not with our team: We have different programs and we don't talk about that with Davide. »
How do you feel about this last race in Italy?
« Nothing special, I feel normal. I just want to try to have a good weekend and a good race. It would be fun, it would be emotional at the end of Sunday's race, but it doesn't make much difference to me. »
How would you like people to remember you as an icon?
« Sincerely, I do not know. When you are an athlete, your life is divided into two parts. One is the driver that a lot of people know and can follow during his career, who they may like or not like. The other is person, but it's more for close friends. But honestly, I don't know how to answer that. Let us remember a good driver with a long career and good results, and sincerely I think that people had fun with me following the races all these years. I think it's the best way to remember. »
26 seasons, 9 titles, is there one thing you would like to take home from this career in MotoGP?
« In my opinion, when you play sports since you are very young, you also learn a lot from sports for your personal and normal life. I've always had fun, I've had great experiences, and I think with our sport, you're on your own when you're on the bike but it's also a team sport. So you learn to work with a team of people who are usually high level, engineers, mechanics or others, and it's a great experience that makes you grow and makes you stronger and smarter because you learn from good things and others. I think it's the best thing I've learned in all these years. »
Photo credits: MotoGP.com
