MotoGP Misano-2 Valentino Rossi: Training and emotion on the program…

The Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team will return to action this weekend at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for the Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell'Emilia Romagna, which will be the final home Grand Prix for Valentino Rossi, after a career 26 years old.

After finishing the Grand Prix of the Americas in the points, Rossi will look to finish the final home race of his career on a high note. For this, and to try to do better than at Misano-1 where he finished 17th, the Italian champion trained this week on the “Misanino”, the karting circuit which adjoins the Misano track.

 

 

The Doctor's results on the circuit located a few kilometers from his home are varied, with six podiums in 14 MotoGP races, including victories in 2008, 2009 and 2014, 2009 being his only pole position:
-Rossi finished second in 2012 riding a Ducati, his only podium of the year in dry weather.
-He won at Misano in 2014, it was the first of his two victories that year.
-In 2015, he ended his streak of 16 podiums by placing fifth after being one of the last drivers to switch to slicks.
-In 2016, he qualified second and finished second after crossing the line in the lead from 2nd to 21st lap.
-In 2017, he missed the San Marino GP after fracturing his right tibia and fibula following an enduro training accident.
-In 2018, he qualified and finished in seventh place at his national GP.
-In 2019, he qualified seventh after struggling in Q2 and finished as the third Yamaha rider behind teammate Viñales.
-At the 2020 San Marino GP, Rossi qualified fourth for his best qualification at Misano since his second place in 2016. It was
the first Yamaha 1-2-3-4 on a premier class grid since the 1988 Portuguese GP at Jerez. He fought for second place before
before being overtaken by Francesco Bagnaia seven laps from the finish and Joan Mir on the last lap. This is the last time he
that he finished so close to the podium.
At the 2020 Emilia Romagna GP, he qualified in seventh position, but crashed at Turn 2 on the second lap while seventh. He got back on his bike before retiring from the race.

Two factors will however be able to distinguish this latest edition from the previous ones: of course the emotion and the desire to do well for this last race in front of its fans, but also the expected rainy weather at least Friday, or even Saturday.

Valentino Rossi : " It's good to have these two weeks without racing, because we have been very busy, especially with the trip to the United States, which was a very demanding race. During this time, I have been training hard at home to ensure that we can face the last three races of the season in the best possible physical condition. This second race in Misano will be more difficult than the first because it may be cooler than a month ago. We have to work to give the best of ourselves, try to be a little faster than in the last races and refine the settings to be more competitive. The previous race in Misano was already a very emotional moment for me and, of course, this one will be a special home race and I really hope that the Italian fans can enjoy it. »

 

 

Photo credits: @camilss