MotoGP: Valentino Rossi, “Lorenzo was a great opponent, but Vinales will be competitive”

Valentino Rossi MotoGP 2016 Valencia Yamaha Movistar – Valentino Rossi spoke on the sidelines of the pre-GP press conference for the last race of the season, which will take place on Sunday in Valencia. The Yamaha champion from Pesaro addressed various topics, here's what he told the press present at the Ricardo Tormo.

Valentino, is it more the desire to have a good race or the desire to try the new bike?

“Testing the new bike is important, but so is having a good race. It would be nice to go fast in Valencia, a circuit where I have always suffered. I think I can be competitive, let's hope for good weather and be able to have a good race and why not a good brawl."

Returning to Valencia 12 months after one of the most important races and do you feel what it means?

“To be focused and give your best, you don't have to think too much about last year. We need to look at the present and the future and it would be nice to have a good race to forget last year."

Have you seen the new 1 YZR-M2017 yet?

“I haven't seen her yet and we don't know anything. You may seem like a bluff (laughs, ed.) but it's the truth. We will see it on Sunday evening or Monday afternoon, the Japanese told us to wait. After the race we will have two days of testing and then we will go to Malaysia the following Sunday, there is no time to relax. It will be hard work and then we will have clearer ideas."

Will you miss something about Lorenzo?

“Off the track we have always had difficult relationships, but sportingly speaking it stimulated me a lot, having such a strong teammate has its negative and positive sides.”

We are at the last race of the season, let's give Michelin a vote.

“It's always difficult to give grades, I gave myself a 7,5 and I think it's a grade that could be good for them too. We need to work, the riders and teams also need more experience with these tyres, but I like them, the bike rides well, it goes fast and I think that for the first year a good job has been done."

There is the possibility that intermediate tires (introduced by Michelin this season) will be abolished in 2017, what is your opinion?

“It won't change much, the "window" for using intermediates is so small that sometimes it just causes confusion, I think we can do without them."

From Tuesday you will share the garage with Vinales, will you give him some advice or not?

“I have a good relationship with Vinales, but I consider him at Lorenzo's level, the latter has more experience, but Vinales is younger and in prospect he could become very strong. He will be an opponent to beat, a tough teammate, I will keep my secrets."

Is there anything that intrigues you in view of 2017?

“Definitely the bike change of some Top Riders, like Lorenzo in Ducati, Iannone in Suzuki and Vinales in Yamaha.”