Rossi not feeling pressure as MotoGP future decision looms
Valentino Rossi says he is not feeling any extra pressure despite his continuing struggles on his Petronas SRT Yamaha MotoGP bike, after ending Friday’s Spanish Grand Prix practice in 21st.
The nine-time grand prix world champion, who has joined the satellite squad for 2021 from the factory Yamaha squad, has scored just four points so far on the same bike which has won all three races to date.
Rossi’s struggles continued on Friday at Jerez as he ended the day 1.4 seconds off the best pace of Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia, while his three Yamaha stablemates filled up the top five.
Explaining his issues at Jerez – where Rossi took his last MotoGP podium in 2020 – the Italian explained his usual rear grip issue on the M1 had been to blame for leaving him “not fast enough”.
“Difficult day because I’m not fast enough,” he said.
“My pace was a bit better than the time attack, also the time attack unfortunately on the good lap I touched the green [run-off]. If not, I was two or three positions more in front, nothing special.
“My pace also is a bit better but I’m not fast enough. I have similar problem because I always suffer very much with the rear grip, especially after some laps.
“For me it’s difficult, the rear tyre, because I slide a bit too much.
“Today we tried different things, two different bikes, but the feeling is very similar. So, we are not able at this moment to fix the problem.
“Tomorrow we will try something and hopefully the condition of the bike will improve.”
Rossi is expected to make a decision on his racing future in the coming events, which are all traditionally strong venues for him.
But when asked by Motorsport.com if he was feeling pressure given that decision is looming while he continues to struggle, he replied: “I don’t know. I don’t feel with a lot of pressure, sincerely.
“Physically I’m not so bad, the problem is I’m not fast enough. So, I don’t have other particular problems.”
Rossi also conceded he’s “not happy” with his current speed, adding: “Riding the bike and being here and working is good, is great, but the results are crucial.
“So, you need to be strong, maybe also you don’t have to always win but to fight for the podium, to fight for the important positions.
“So, for that reasons I’m not happy because I’m not fast and when you are slow, it’s not very fun.”
Related video
Spanish MotoGP: Bagnaia tops FP2 from Quartararo
Marquez had "no problem" mentally at Jerez crash corner
Why Honda and Yamaha have been left behind in MotoGP's new era
OPINION: The once all-conquering Japanese manufacturers are going through a difficult period in MotoGP this season. With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. This is why.
How in-form Quartararo is evoking Marquez in MotoGP 2022
OPINION: Fabio Quartararo has seized control of the 2022 MotoGP world standings after another dominant victory as his nearest rivals faltered. And he is very much heading towards a second championship echoing how the dominator of the last decade achieved much of his success.
Why Marquez's surgery is about more than just chasing on-track success
OPINION: Marc Marquez will likely sit out the remainder of the 2022 MotoGP season to undergo a fourth major operation on the right arm he badly broke in 2020. It is hoped it will return him to his brilliant best after a tough start to the season without a podium to his name. But it’s the human victory that will far outweigh any future on-track success he may go on to have
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Motorsport.com, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock of Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. We analyse what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP's Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How praise for Honda's MotoGP bike has given way to doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's win was vital not only for his title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations