It’s not often that Valentino gets close three times in a row, but this is the record of the Misano, Barcelona and Le Mans Grand Prix. His French race lasted a few tens of meters before he and his Yamaha slipped on the tarmac. You may have to search the annals to see when the last time it happened, but the doctor’s memory will save you the trouble …
“Unfortunately I remember it well, it was last year – he smiled – it happened in Mugello, Barcelona and Assen. These things shouldn’t be happening, so ask yourself a lot of questions. I already know that I’ll be thinking more about it in the next few days. You have to have a very long discourse on the existence of luck and bad luck. In my entire career I have never been able to understand if there is really bad luck, but at this moment it seems to me that way. “
So Rossi recorded his third straight zero …
“There were three very different mistakes – he explained – In Misano I did not feel good physically, I had the flu and I did not have a lot of strength. I had my best weekend of the year in Barcelona, along with Jerez’s, I was quick and made a mistake when most of it was done. Here, however, it happened in the first corner and we have to understand why. “
Rossi can’t hide his disappointment …
“It’s a shame, the worst part is to crash without understanding your potential – he continued – I’m in a difficult, unhappy moment, although I’m quick, I haven’t managed to get a point in three races. They were good tracks for me and I had to take the points home. I’m very sad, I got off to a good start and we were all very relaxed in the first left corner because the conditions were difficult. I was careful, but the bike started to move in the back and I don’t know what happened. “
In times like these you have to get up and forget disappointments. But the next two tracks, Aragon and Valencia, are certainly not the Doctor’s favorites …
“On paper, they’ll be difficult for me – he has confirmed – It is precisely for this reason that it will be important to be competitive It will be a challenge. There are 5 races left until the end of the championship and I have to do my best. “
The regret is even greater, because the fight for the title is still open and without the numerous mistakes the doctor could still have been on the hunt …
“I have to admit that Quartararo did a great job today – said Valentino – he was calm, did not make mistakes and scored points. We fight with the Yamaha under these conditions because it was wet today but there wasn’t much water on the asphalt. The same thing happens to us when we use slicks when it’s wet. We lack a lot of traction. It was a shame for me, but also for Yamaha, we could all have had a great race in the dry. Anyway, Fabio was good like in Barcelona, his best win in difficult conditions in my opinion, I’m sure he will be strong until the end. “
Rossi also wanted to congratulate Petrucci …
“Danilo was great – were his words – he was always strong at Le Mans and the Ducati is very competitive in these conditions. It was a great win, he was front from start to finish and he deserved it after going through a difficult moment. “”