Barely returned from Yamaha private tests in Sepang, and to the occasion of its participation in the Monza Rally, Vale came, as he does every year, to grant an interview to Linus and Nicola Savino, two of the hosts of Deejay Chiama Italia. Here is the first part of this very long interview, the second being published Friday morning.
Valentino Rossi was first asked about the Sepang test days: “They went pretty well. We finally toured with the 2016 bike. We all agree that 2017 was a little worse. But we are still waiting for the new bike. There will be something interesting for February. The starting point will be the 2016 bike. We will change the weight distribution, the position of the engine and use a different stiffness. »
“For the Japanese, who designed the bike, the problem was that Vinales, who came from Suzuki, immediately went very fast with the bike. I just tried it, it didn't feel right. In Valencia and Sepang I had a lot of doubts, but he was strong and I said maybe I was tired after the season, so I decided to do the tests with the new bike, but It was a mistake and we lost a lot of time. »
“We've done a lot of research, in my opinion the bike does poorly where the track has little grip and it's hot. In Malaysia for the tests the asphalt was new and the grip was incredible. Then after the first three races outside Europe, I was leading the Championship and even Vinales had won. There were only tracks with grip, and in Qatar at night it was cool. »
“Coming back to Europe we started having problems, starting in Jerez where it was hot, and when you have problems you can start doing extreme and worse things. »
Then Valentino was injured in training before the Misano Grand Prix. " It was hard. I was injured in 2010 at Mugello, I was desperate for three reasons: it hurt a lot, then because I knew how the operation was going to go and the third because it took away my last chance for the Championship. I was pessimistic about the title because I wasn't fast enough, then it all happened before Misano, which was my home race. Already before Mugello I had crashed, but I was fine, I was lucky. The second time I fell at 30 km/h in enduro at a place where I have been riding for 20 years with my father Graziano's friends. »
What will happen when Vale stops racing in MotoGP? “ I think someone will be very happy when I stop, among my opponents… I don't know why the attention is always on me, maybe it's a combination. I had a very long career, I won so much and then people fell in love... In Italy, I introduced motorcycling to people who didn't know it and even abroad, there are many fans in Spain."
First of all, what is planned this winter? “There is no MotoGP test now, so I will ride at the Ranch. We will also do a race. It was all born from American flat track, which Kenny Roberts already practiced. It teaches you to enter the curve without braking, you must slow down the movement by getting in the way. Big challenges with the Academy boys… I'm also training in Misano with a Yamaha R1, but now it's cold. »
Recently there have been protests regarding the Valentino Ranch because of the noise. The person concerned commented: “When you have a track where motorcycles turn, there is always a dispute with local residents. We respect all the laws, but I think it will be a never-ending fight. It started since we opened it. In winter we ride once a week and once every two weeks in summer. »
In terms of private life, nothing new: “ I don't have time to get married, I'm married to motorcycles (laughs, editor’s note). »
To be continued…
Photo and Source: deejay.it © GEDI Gruppo Editoriale SpA
