MotoGP: Valentino Rossi “Difficult relationship with Silverstone, but I want to do well”

Valentino Rossi was among the "guests" of the pre-GP press conference at Silverstone. The rider from Pesaro, who is 70 points behind the leader Marc Marquez in the championship, spoke about this race, the relationship with the British circuit, which is not exactly idyllic with the Rossi family and finally the accident of which Eddie La Marra was the victim at Misano . Here's what the Pesaro native said.

“The relationship with Silverstone is a conflictual one, I liked the track a lot from the first time I saw it, it's an old-fashioned, fast track, a MotoGP track. However, I have always struggled, both in 2011 and 2012, even though I only raced with the Ducati, so I hope it goes better with the Yamaha. Here our bike has always been strong, Jorge especially last year and in 2010 he went very fast and won. However, it must be said that last year we came here in June and Honda then improved a lot. They will certainly be strong, we hope to be competitive too, working well both in practice and in qualifying. Here the Hondas will be strong and we must not forget Crutchlow, who will give something more at home.”

Your father lost the world championship here, so it doesn't seem to be a "Rossi" track

“At Silverstone Graziano lost the world championship, let's say it's not exactly a “positive” track for the Rossi family…. But these are things that take their time, there's no reason why tomorrow can't be strong. I remember that he struggled a lot with the Ducati, especially to get the front tire up to temperature, but now I hope to do well with the Yamaha. It will be a more difficult weekend than Brno, I will have to learn the lines, but the track is very beautiful and the weather seems promising. Let's hope it holds its own throughout the weekend."

Championship chapter

“It's really difficult for the world championship, I'm 70 points behind Marquez and that's a lot. Now I have to try to do my best, fight for the podium and possibly for the victory."

Marquez has already equaled your podiums and could beat you on Sunday

“In my first year in the premier class I had achieved two victories and ten podiums, which were already a lot for a rookie, but he has already achieved ten and therefore will most likely beat me. He's already beaten me in victories, so congratulations to him.”

It was pointed out to him that Pedrosa preferred the other Silverstone

“I'm happy to be on this side of the circuit, in these garages. On the other side the environment was more aseptic, here it is true that the straight line is shorter and perhaps it is more difficult to see the table, but it is more fascinating.”

The nine-time world champion then spoke about Eddie La Marra's crash in the Misano tests, which had quite serious consequences for the Ducati rider

“I think I understand how the fall happened. It's in an acceleration section after turn 6. In that turn you always hit the last edge of the curb and sometimes you go even further. If I understand correctly, it had rained the night before and there is synthetic grass outside the curb. I understand that synthetic grass is not the best solution, but if it isn't there, natural grass should be used. If there was concrete it would go further and either synthetic or natural grass would still have to be placed after the concrete. Unfortunately he made a small mistake and paid dearly for it. Let's hope everything goes well."

Photos: Alex Farinelli