True to tradition, minutes before the start of the third free practice of the San Marino Grand Prix, the nine-time world champion showed off the special helmet he will be wearing on what is his penultimate weekend in Italy. However, the new design did not bring him much luck and in that FP3 he crashed at turn 13.
The #46 was forced to go through Q1, but he had no luck there either and went down again in 15, when the front end closed. Thus, Rossi will start penultimate on the Misano starting grid this Sunday, just ahead of his new teammate Andrea Dovizioso.
“It was a difficult day, especially because of the two crashes. I thought I would do well because the pace with new tires was not bad and I was optimistic for Q1, but with the hard front I had a lot of difficulties. In the morning I made a mistake and I crashed in the fast part when I was starting to push to get into the top 10. I’m very frustrated with the crash in the afternoon, because in FP4 it wasn’t too bad and I was hoping to get a good time in Q1. I’ll try to do better tomorrow Rossi introduced.
(Before continuing reading, click on the link or on the image to see all the photos of Valentino Rossi at the 2021 MotoGP San Marino GP)
Since announcing his retirement in early August, Il Dottore has insisted he won’t give up until he crosses the finish line at the final race in Valencia. The two crashes this Sunday are proof of this.
“One option would be to take it easy until the end. Maybe it would also be the right decision, but I’m here and I want to try to do my best. I made a mistake. I think I have to give my best, not do anything crazy, but try my best. to get the best results you can,” he said.
Opposite Rossi is one of his Academy pupils, Pecco Bagnaia, who will start Misano from pole position for the second race in a row. The one from Tavullia believes that the one from Ducati can still be champion if he plays his cards right to overcome the 53 points that the leader Fabio Quartararo takes from him.
“Pecco and Franco [Morbidelli] next year are going to fight to win the world championship. Pecco could even try to win the title this year, why not? He’s at Ducati, he has the advantage of being an Italian rider with a Italian motorcycle: it is difficult to do better. It would be as if Ferrari won the world championship and an Italian driver started from pole in Monza. Let’s say that we are in the apotheosis of Italian motorcycling. The fans must flock to follow him, “he concluded.
