MotoGP | GP Qatar Day 1: Valentino Rossi, “Good start, but not enough”

MotoGP GP Qatar Yamaha Petronas SRT 2021 – Good start for Valentino Rossi at the Losail International Circuit, where the first race of the 2021 MotoGP, the Qatar Grand Prix, is scheduled for Sunday.

The "Doctor" achieved the ninth fastest time in both FP1 and FP2 and this will allow him, unless there are "reversals" in FP3, to directly access Q2.

The atmosphere in the Team is excellent and tomorrow they will work both from a race perspective (in FP4) and from a qualifying perspective, to secure a good starting position. Here's what the #46 of Team Yamaha Petronas had to say.

Statements Valentino Rossi GP Qatar Day 1

“I'm happy with how I went today, because I immediately started strong from FP1 and I can ride the bike well. I've improved as a driver, in the tests we worked a lot on corner entry and direction changes. I feel physically fit, I was able to train better, I'm definitely fitter than last year and so it was a good start. Above all, we feel good in the Team, there is a nice atmosphere and we are working well in the garage together with Idalio, David and Matteo. Good start, but we hope to improve.”

Valentino Rossi Statements Qatar GP Yamaha Vs Ducati Day 1

“Here the Yamaha is fast and you can ride well, in some corners I was behind Pecco (Bagnaia, ed.) and Jack (Miller, ed.) and I was faster than them, but then they are fast in other sections. I see them both in very good shape, they're riding well, it will be difficult for the others, but I repeat, no one knows what will happen in the second part of the race, we don't know and Ducati doesn't know, we'll find out on Sunday evening."

Statements Valentino Rossi GP Qatar Suzuki Day 1

“Rins scares me a lot, because he lapped in 53 and six and he usually doesn't go that fast in practice. Mir is out of the ten for a short time and we know that he will be able to return in the race. I see both Suzuki riders as very tough for Sunday's race, especially Rins at the moment.”