During the Misano Grand Prix, Suzi Perry (MotoGP presenter for the British channel BT Sport for 13 years) was able to take 12 minutes of Valentino Rossi's precious time to carry out a very nice interview with the Italian champion.
The interview turned out to be rich, and if we have already extracted some remarks from it, there is still more to report. We will end with the most controversial ones but, for today, we will focus on a subject that is particularly close to the heart of the man from Tavullia; its Ranch and the young pilots!
You are still in MotoGP. Why did you feel the need to create this project to help young pilots?
“Because I thought that when I finish flying, this is going to be my life anyway. We have a lot of experience, a lot of contacts, and I feel good in this place, I feel good in the paddock. We started with the VR46 with my friends, Uccio, Albi, Carlo and all the others, to build something for the future. Because unfortunately, I will have to stop one day. I hope it will be in 10 years (laughs) but it will happen at some point. And I think the best way is to help young drivers because it's the best thing you can do. We work but we have a lot of fun. I didn't expect to have this participation, nor this feeling when you are with the young drivers. It's not like when you're flying, but it's similar. »
You are very involved in this project and you make a lot of decisions. Do you choose the drivers?
" Yes ! »
What do you get from training at the Ranch with the young pilots?
“You should come once, because it’s in a special place. Our training with the Academy drivers not only takes place at the Ranch, but also in the gym, with karts, with Minibikes. »
Do you train with them?
" Yes. [Or rather] They train with me (laughs) because I was there 10 years before them (laughs). But at the Ranch, it's special. The most important thing is the competition, the performance, the fight with them, and everything that goes in that spirit; running, go karting, ranch racing, and seeing who is the fastest. They are always competitions and I need them because I am quite old and this is a good test, and it helps me not to be boring and not to get bored. »
