MotoGP | Valentino Rossi: “Marquez and Dovizioso are the favorites for the title”

MotoGP 2019 – Valentino Rossi interviewed by Sky Sport spoke about the season that is about to begin. In fact, the first race of the season is scheduled for Sunday in Losail, Qatar, which as usual will take place at night.

There are many new features at Yamaha, from the test team with Jonas Folger to the new project leader Takahiro Sumi. Here's what the #46 had to say from the Iwata factory, which sees Marquez and Dovizioso as title favourites.

2019 SEASON

“This is always a very exciting moment, we have a lot of good intentions and a lot of motivation to do better, because we have come from a somewhat difficult year for the whole Yamaha team. It seems that our Japanese leaders and engineers are also very motivated to improve. So we would like to be stronger and more competitive than in 2018.”

FUN/COMPETITIVENESS

“Yes, when I signed this two-year contract I knew it would be a big commitment for me because I'm starting to get big. And just two long years. I feel ready, in the sense that I really like what I do. I'm very motivated in trying to get to the front, in trying to go fast with the Yamaha. Then if the results arrive, then everything works more easily.”

2018 SEASON

“2018 is not a World Championship to forget, at the end of the season I finished third. But for example I have never won, even though I came close on a couple of occasions. This is something I would like to improve in 2019.”

NEW PROJECT LEADER TAKAHIRO SUMI.

“I know it, I've already worked there. He seems good to me. Something's changing..."

YAMAHA CHANGES

“It's not just the project leader that has changed, there are many aspects on which we need to work better. Yamaha must have a more modern approach to MotoGP, as Ducati, Honda and also Suzuki have done. It seems like something moved last winter. Our Japanese engineers are all very excited. Nothing is missing in the team, there is a good atmosphere. We have a good working group.”

AGGRESSION'

“Yes, it's true, Yamaha is usually always conservative. She moves in small steps trying to always be safe. Instead now we need to push a little harder, risk a little more. I see them ready. I think Yamaha lacks nothing to be at the top in MotoGP.”

OPPONENTS 2019

“Marquez and Dovizioso are certainly the favourites. Then there's me and Vinales. Then there are Lorenzo, Petrucci, Suzuki with Rins, there are many outsiders."

COMPETING AT 40

“It's better to laugh at it. I'm doing some tests for the future: I'm trying to demonstrate that you can be competitive even at 40. In the next few years someone else will do it too.”