On this Sunday, June 27, 2021, Valentino Rossi answered journalists' questions from the TT Circuit Assen, at the end of the Dutch Grand Prix, in which the Petronas Yamaha SRT rider crashed after making a bad start.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the Italian rider's words at the scene of his last MotoGP victory.
As usual, we report here the words of Valentino Rossi without the slightest formatting.
Valentino Rossi : " Yes, it's a real shame because our pace wasn't bad. I had pretty good potential so we expected a decent race. But unfortunately I got off to a bad start because we had changed something for the start and I had to change my way of doing things and I didn't feel very comfortable. Like at Sachsenring, I had a bad start and then found myself far behind but I tried to make a few overtakes. But I stayed behind the other bikes and unfortunately when you stay behind the other bikes the front tire has some problems. You feel a little less grip. I was able to overtake Bastianini and tried to attack, but unfortunately I lost the front at turn #7. We checked the data (sigh and waved there was nothing) and we don't quite understand. But anyway, it was just a slide but at high speed and I'm OK, so it's important. »
You said you would think about your future over the summer break. Will this result influence your decision?
« It won't be based on today. I always said that this year was difficult, that there were great talents, but my decision for next year depends a lot on the results. The results of the first half of the season are not what we expected and we hoped to be stronger and fight for better positions. So the results don't help us. Now is not the time because I said at the start of the year that I will decide in the coming weeks what I will do next year. That's how it is and I'll tell you when I've decided. »
Can the situation with Maverick Viñales possibly leaving Yamaha affect your plans?
« Hmmm… Looks like we might see some changes in the next few weeks. I don't really know but maybe something we didn't expect will change. But honestly, for me, that doesn't change my decision because it is correlated to the results. What happens with the others in the other teams or with the other Yamahas is therefore not for me. »
How much has aerodynamics changed riding style in the last five years?
« For me, in recent years, the riding style has changed, particularly regarding the position on the bike. Now everyone is very much on the outside, very forward with their head, shoulders and elbows. For me, the way you approach the corners and the lines have also changed a lot because now, with these bikes, these tires and these brakes, you can enter the corner much faster. So you drive in a different way, compared to recent years. But I don't know how much this correlates to aerodynamics. With aerodynamics, ultimately you have better acceleration and you get to the next corner faster. You have more downforce at the front so you can brake harder, and the bike becomes heavier when changing direction so you need more (body) power. So I think aerodynamics makes more of a difference in these areas than riding style. »
Does this make riding physically more difficult as you get older?
« For me, I don't think that's the key. I mean… Everyone has their own style and I see a lot of riders who are very fast anyway, even if they have a more normal position on the bike, like Jack Miller or Franco. It depends a lot on the moment. Physically, it's more difficult, especially because current motorcycles are more demanding. They are more demanding because they are faster, there is more aerodynamics, you can brake harder, you can grip the bike more. It's not just the position, but in general it's more physically difficult. »
Standings for the Dutch MotoGP Grand Prix at TT Assen:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
