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The roar of Valentino Rossi "I need to win at least one"
Milano, 26 January 2013
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. “I’ll finish in the top three with Yamaha but it will be difficult to beat Lorenzo. Marriage? I don’t think so. I came back ‘younger’ from Ducati. It’s good that Biaggi is commentating on TV.”
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<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Valentino uses the adjective ‘excited’ a few times his chat in Indonsia, and the fire that burns within him is evident in every response. It’s a new adventure and almost a new career for him despite the nine world titles he’s already won. Success will be unlikely, as with all things considered it’s difficult to see him winning at the age of 34 after two torpid years at Ducati that saw his young adversaries develop and grow in competence and character. Fortunately for him, sport isn’t an exact science and, even while keeping his cards close to his chest, he’s sure that history can repeat itself.
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Rossi, how did you wake up on 1st January?
"Relieved? (laughter). But seriously, the beginning of the year is always special. I’d say I was excited.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;How have you been over the winter?
“Good. Better than the last few years. Above all 2010 when I had the operation on my shoulder which was no laughing matter. Now I am ready and in form.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;You’ve been out on the Ranch a lot. Was that just for enjoyment or was it a precise programme of preparation?
“It was preparation for me to be ready. Our track is very enjoyable and is now ready for the official inauguration.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;A verdict on Rossi the rider?
“I’m at a certain age now but I feel good and am very motivated. I know it will be difficult to come back after two disappointing years but I’ll do better with Yamaha.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Is it just the rider that needs to settle in or is it necessary for the team as well?
"It will be easier for them. I need to settle in the most.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;What kind of Yamaha do you expect?
“When I tried the bike at the end of last season I found it to be good. Its acceleration has improved a lot. It’s currently at 1000 but you can sense the progression. It will be difficult because Honda are motivated and were strong in the last few races. However, the M1 is competitive.
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Lorenzo is a difficult teammate. Was it better that you knew each other or would you have had fewer problems with someone else?
"It was better to know each other. We’re both experienced, so we know what to expect. He was a difficult partner but then, so am I. Even though we had problems in the team we still won everything.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Lorenzo’s even better now. How will you beat him?
”It will be tough. His strong point is that he knows the Yamaha well and is better at riding it. I’ll have to settle in bit by bit. More than watching what he’s doing I’ll have to get my bike right, motivate the team, and get onto the podium as soon as possible. It will take time to beat Lorenzo: he’ll be quicker at the start.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Do you know what went wrong at Ducati?
”We didn’t manage to adapt the bike to my style of riding, and visa-versa.
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Your relationship with the engineer Preziosi went from very good to very cold.
I’m disappointed for both of us that it went how it did: MotoGP was the most important thing in my life. We started out in agreement as did everyone at Ducati. The problem was the results. I would go to dinner with Filippo and I’m disappointed he’s kept his distance. In these situations someone has to go. I left and they made him leave.
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;You spoke of requests that were not granted and unfulfilled promises on bike modifications…
“Filippo told me that he would be ready to modify the Ducati according to my advice to make the bike competitive. But all the time they were thinking that if they put me on a bike and I made fewer mistakes than Stoner, it would be enough to win. We didn’t manage it.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;The Technical Director Burgess has accused Ducati of not working hard enough: is that an unjust statement given the quantity of work done?
"Exactly. It’s not true that they didn’t work. The issue was that the problems we had at the start were never resolved.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;What have you left behind at Ducati?
“I’ve left a bike that’s still difficult to take to the limits and that never feels under control. However, they have good riders and they can do well. We’ll have to see what route Audi take to improve the bike.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Have these last two negative years influenced your private life?
“If I have changed it’s been for the better. But I don’t think I have. I’ve come through the worst period of my career, but I’ve matured a bit. I’ve had quite a few good years and as you get older there are fewer surprises because you understand better what happens in sport. I have a well-balanced private life: that was the case before Ducati and it’s still the case now.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;There was an important sentimental change for you in 2012.
“I left my girlfriend. What happened on the track was of no influence, even though it doesn’t help if things are not going well at work. You become less relaxed and your relationship with your partner makes everything more difficult.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;You have La Gazzetta to thank for getting together with Linda, she says?
”I will always be grateful to La Gazzetta. She did some work for their Sportsweek magazine and in her profile she said that I was her favourite sportsperson. My ‘informants’ came and told me and when I saw the pictures I thought I’d look her up. I found her and we started communicating. But it’s been a long story.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;You’re almost 34 now: are you ready to get married?
“No I’m not ready and I don’t want to get married. I’ll only do it if I can’t say no.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;And children? You’re an ‘uncle’ of Uccio’s child…
“In the last few months I’ve become uncle 3 or 4 times. As well as Uccio there’s also Carlo (his trainer) and another. I’m with them a lot and can see how they change your life."
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Simoncelli would have been 26 a few days ago. What are your memories of that terrible Sunday.
“Very terrible memories. Fortunately it hasn’t caused me to stop racing. But there’s a great void now.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;And memories of Marco?
“Great memories. I always think of him. I have regrets of not being able to spend more time with him.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;There have been changes in your working arrangements as well. You’ve left the agency that dealt with your merchandising and you now do that yourself. Is there a future for you as an entrepreneur?
“I’ve started doing different things. I like and enjoy that, but never with the motorcycling.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Have you thought about retiring or do you want to keep riding and winning like you ‘friend’ Biaggi at 41 years-old?
“I’ll keep riding as long as I enjoy it. That is to say for as long as I’m competitive. I don’t think about retirement.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Have you thought about making up with Max?
“He’s not the enemy he was before. We’ve buried the hatchet.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Would you like to go into commentating after you finish riding in MotoGP?
“Very much so. It could be enjoyable.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Italians will go to the polls soon. What do you think of the situation?
“I returned to Italy in 2007 but I didn’t vote last time. It looks to me like a negative situation and I might not even vote this time as I don’t have faith in any of them. We’re not doing well and it’s useless voting for one or the other. The system needs changing.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Returning to the track, how has your Yamaha adventure started out?
“It’s going well. It’s good to get back to family. Everyone’s happy that I’m back here again. We’ll have to wait for the test at Sepang. I’m very excited. In any case going to Ducati was positive and I’m more motivated than I would have been if I’d stayed at Yamaha. Maybe I’ve become younger!”.
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Does being mentally relaxed and motivated to get off to a good start assist you as a rider?
“Yes. Above all you need to be fairly relaxed in life. When you’re younger things don’t bother you so much. As you get older everything needs to be in place for you to go quickly.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Will it be tough to have the pace you had before?
“It will be difficult to go as strongly as Pedrosa and Jorge consistently. I’ll have to make a real effort. I still don’t know my potential with the M1. It will be more competitive but I don’t know if it will be good enough just to finish fourth, or on the podium, or to win outright.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Would it be better to be second behind Jorge, or third behind the two Hondas?
"Second behind Jorge".
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Would not winning a GP be a big disappointment?
“Yes. The objective is to win a GP, which I’ve not done since 2010. If I didn’t win but was on the podium every Sunday it might be ok. But a victory would be the watershed.”
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;Where will you come in the World Championship?
“It’s difficult to say. I’d like to have plenty of podium finishes. At least 10, and to finish in the top three in the Championship."
<p style="font-style:inherit;font-size:1.5em;font-family:inherit;What do you see happening in Qatar?
“A podium finish. Even if I’m not competitive with Lorenzo and Pedrosa, I need to try to be not far behind them. And it’s still to be seen how Marquez will do”
