Old, but interesting:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>For the first time in five years, valentino rossi is not the reigning premier-class Grand Prix champion, but he’s a champion nonetheless, as he proved in his comportment after suffering an extremely disappointing defeat. The following was excerpted and translated from Rossi’s post-race private Italian press conference:
On how he feels:
We were able to overcome a desperate situation, and we were able to come here in the lead. Today we knew it would be a difficult race that I’d have to suffer. Unfortunately, I think I lost the championship on the start, because the red was on a little longer than normal, and I made a mistake. Riding behind the other bikes, my water temperature went up; it arrived at 120, and I lost some power, which hurt a lot on the straights.
On his crash:
In practice, I did that corner 500 times at the limit to test the grip of the front tire, but today, I lost the bike.
On how much Elias beating him at Estoril mattered:
You can talk about giving away five points [at Estoril], but there are 100 that we gave—25 in France that I think of the most, but there are a lot. But anyway, Hayden won, and he was great—he deserved it. I’m happy that we didn’t give up until the end. That means a great group effort, a great effort from everyone who worked. Unfortunately, it went bad, but it went well many times. I won seven world titles, so I can lose one.
On the disappointment:
These are things that happen, unfortunately. If I’d won this world championship, I’d have become like a cartoon hero—unbeatable on this motorcycle for four years in a row. It would have been important for that reason. Unfortunately, life isn’t like cartoons or movies. They got me this time, but we tried until the end, and I’m happy for that. I don’t think it ended in the black. This year, we’ve shown ourselves to be the strongest when things go right. So in the coming years, I think I could have other occasions. But Hayden deserves it. We lost points on many occasions, and were unfortunate; today’s error was only the most recent of many bad-luck races. Naturally, I’m very sad, because it would have been nice to win—a great catch. But in the past, we’ve had many. It’s a new sensation, and I think it can help me to grow and improve…. Like I said earlier, if I won this championship, I could’ve counted myself unbeatable on this bike—something that’s never happened. The lesson is that unbeatable superheroes only exist in movies. Life is different, but I can’t be sad with this year, because we never let up—even when the situation was disastrous, and when I think all the others would have given up. This is our strong point, and it will be in the coming years.
On whether he cried:
No, I didn’t cry, honestly, but naturally, I’m very unhappy to see the race finish like this. Hayden wouldn’t have won, because the Ducatis and Bridgestones were stronger. It was a difficult race for Michelin. Unfortunately, in the last two races, the tires didn’t behave like they did in practice. This has never happened, and that’s why I didn’t win in Portugal. But I didn’t cry.
On Nicky wearing #1 in 2007:
I’d like to give Nicky my compliments, because he deserved it and was very strong. It’s right that he puts the #1, if that’s what he feels. I wouldn’t change my #46. I saw that he cried on the victory lap, and that was nice. I think that if I won, he’d have been ‘happy’ for me, and I’m happy for him. If someone else had to win, Nicky was at the top of my personal list. It was a great fight to the last race, but we were able to maintain the same relationship that we had in 2003. When I see him, he makes me smile. I’m happy, and I think it’s nice for everyone. Apart from being a great rider, he’s really a nice guy—one who gives his all to finish first on the track, but who doesn’t have mean thoughts off of it. That’s important.
On Earl Hayden saying Rossi’s still the man:
I would have liked to hug [Nicky], but Hayden was pretty confused [laughs]. I left him in his happiness. I’m happy that [Earl] said that because Hayden’s dad is a great man. I’ll tell you this: after Portugal, where they crashed, he came to personally compliment me in my motor home. I don’t think many people would’ve done that.
On the team making mistakes this season:
I was jealous of the mistakes they made, and I wanted to make one too. I did it today, so at least we’re even [laughs]. It was a difficult year; we always suffered, and we were never technically at Honda’s level. But I can’t say anything. I go on my knees and tip my hat to the guys from Yamaha who really worked to try to bring the M1 back to the top after the problems. With Michelin, the problem remains that I don’t know why this tire had more problems during the race than in practice. Looking at the others’ times from today, Michelin suffered a lot. I think that if we want to be at the top next year, we’ll have to roll up our sleeves, because Bridgestone and Ducati were the difference today.
On what he thought after the crash:
I knew that it would be very difficult, also because the bike wasn’t like yesterday—it was sliding a lot. The foot peg was broken, the shift lever was bent, the tip of the clutch lever was bent, and the left handlebar was pushed in so that I couldn’t push back during braking; in fact, my whole arm is hurting. But I knew that apart from a big gift, my goose was cooked.
On how he’d have felt if he were going to Formula One in 2007:
Losing like this and having decided to go race in Formula One next year, would have left a bitter taste in my mouth for my whole life. Therefore, I think I made the right choice.
On Graziano betting him 15 euros after the Red Bull USGP that Vale would win the championship:
That’s the biggest drama of all—that Graziano lost 15 euros! ...., I’m going to make him pay!
http://www.roadracerx.com/article_print.php?article_id=170
