MotoGP Mugello: Valentino Rossi, "Lorenzo is the rider to beat, but watch out for Marquez and the Ducatis"

The world championship circus has landed in Italy, precisely at Mugello, where the sixth round of the 2015 season is scheduled for Sunday. The weekend which opened with the classic press conference on Thursday, saw our Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Andrea Iannone, Danilo Petrucci and the Spaniards Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez. Here's home, said Valentino Rossi.

“Ducati is scary here, it was already strong last year. The new bike is good, they have only tested here recently, the straight is long and it will be a "zone" where they will certainly be able to overtake and where it will be difficult to overtake them. They will certainly start from the front, given the advantages they have with the soft tyre. The two riders are in good shape, especially Dovizioso, while Iannone has a shoulder problem and we'll have to see how he fares once he's on the bike. It's a circuit where you struggle a lot physically, especially when changing direction, so it will be tough for him.”

Who do you see as the favorite for the race?

“The one who scares me the most is Lorenzo, he's really strong here, in recent years he's always been in front and can ride really well. I'm not forgetting Marquez, who beat Lorenzo last year, but we'll have to see how he fares with the bike. I would put the two of them as the main opponents and then the Ducatis. There are five riders who can win and I wouldn't underestimate Pedrosa, who has always been strong here.”

Here at Mugello with so many fans are you forced to change your habits?

“No, maybe on Sunday evening you're a little more tired, but it's nice to race at Mugello, nice to have all these fans. We will have to stay calm and think only about the track."

You have many fans, but there are also many Ducati fans.

“It's true, I have many fans, especially at Mugello, but many support Ducati, which is doing well this year. It's nice for Italian motorcycling, it's a nice spot for MotoGP.”

Can we talk about an Italian Renaissance after years of crisis?

“We are working (he says referring to the VR46, ed.) but the others are doing it too. Future champions are being prepared. With our results we bring people closer to this sport, parents bring their children with minibikes and this helps for the future. In the next few years we will have and already have many fast riders in Moto3 and Moto2. For example Fenati, Bastianini, Bagnaia to say the podium at Le Mans; some very young people like Bulega, Arbolino, then there's my brother (Luca Marini, ed.) who does Moto2. Morbidelli, who does Moto2 here in the world championship, is also doing well. There are at least 5/6 riders per category who are going strong and who can win.”

Lorenzo is a real enemy also for the world championship?

“We all started knowing that the man to beat was Marquez, but now it's Lorenzo. Here things change quickly, however the two of them are at the same level.”

Will you have the “Mugello Edition” helmet?

“The new helmet is here, it will be ready by Saturday morning.”