MotoGP Aragon: Valentino Rossi “I'd like to be the tip of the balance”

A decidedly satisfied Valentino Rossi spoke after the Aragon qualifying, which the Pesaro native finished fourth fastest. Only five thousandths of a second "denied" him the front row, but the pace is there, the feeling is there too and compared to yesterday things have definitely improved. For the race he will try to stay with the three Spaniards (Marquez, Lorenzo and Pedrosa) and why not try to get in front of the Hondas. The Pesaro native remarked how he lapped three seconds faster than last year (when he was riding the Ducati), a great satisfaction.

“I'm satisfied, we've definitely taken a step forward compared to yesterday. With this temperature the bike goes better both in terms of pace and lap time and we are not far from the Hondas, even if they are a little faster. With a higher temperature we would suffer more, but things are definitely better.”

Is the podium possible?

“I would love it, because I've never ridden one here in Aragon. The best result was a sixth place in 2010. The important thing will be to start well and fight from the start, then we'll see.”

You used the soft tyre, is it also a valid choice for the race?

“We chose it because it helped me in the first two laps, but it is also possible to use it for the race, Lorenzo in fact completed over 20 laps. We'll see tomorrow what the temperature will be and then we'll decide."

Can we say that you have finally "understood" the new qualification format?

“Today we had a good strategy, I wasn't in traffic and I didn't have to look for the 'shot'. But it's easier to do it when you're going fast.”

Could you be the tipping point of this world championship?

“That's my goal, I work on it every day. I would like to stay with them (the three Spaniards) and have a crescendo season finale. Now the setting is more suited to this bike and I also needed some time."

Would you like to help Lorenzo?

“Yes, but finishing ahead of the Hondas (laughs, ed.), it would be a good way.”

You lapped three seconds faster than last year, does it seem like a "different" circuit to you?

"I would say yes. Already when I came for the tests in June I found it different and beautiful, then today I remembered that last year I had lapped decidedly slow, I was doing 50 and 9, so I lapped three seconds faster! This makes driving more enjoyable and more fun.”

Will you use a more powerful engine tomorrow?

“With the rotation we have reached the fifth engine, so it is “fresher” and certainly has a little more.”