'I can fight for the podium' declares Rossi

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has declared he is now able to fight for the podium in MotoGP after bagging his best dry-weather result on the Ducati at Mugell today and finishing less than 12 seconds behind runaway race winner Jorge Lorenzo.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has declared he is now able to fight for the podium in MotoGP after bagging his best dry-weather result on the Ducati at Mugell today and finishing less than 12 seconds behind runaway race winner Jorge Lorenzo.

The Doctor took advantage of a last-lap dust up between team-mate Nicky Hayden and rookie Stefan Bradl to steal fifth from the American and says that, with an improved grid position and a better start than he got today, he is able to fight for a rostrum spot. He crossed the line just 1.4s behind third-placed man Andrea Dovizioso.

"We are happy as a team for the result because fifth place is not so bad but especially for the time of race because I had a very good pace to the end and is from two races I can stay on quite a good rhythm, especially on the last laps. This is very important for me, I like a lot because we work a bit in a different setting, so today the race was very positive except the start, that was very bad and also my position as we are struggling too much with the practice," said Rossi, speaking to bikesportnews.com.

"Unfortunately the other guys, and in this case the other Ducatis, are able to improve a lot their speed and performance with the soft tyre but for me I always have some problem with the front end of the bike and a lot of time this year when I put the soft tyre I am not able to use the extra grip and acceleration as the extra grip on the rear make my problem worse, so for this reason we are struggling very much in the practice. With a better position on the grid and and with a better start, I can fight for the podium.

"From half race we had a good pace as we did a modify to the front after the warm up and I had the front in a perfect position for right-hand corners, I can brake on the right, was very strong in San Donato and the two Arribiata, and also the Correntaio so I can push a lot on the front and I start to make a better pace. 

"I knew Cal was behind but for him it never really possible for him to attack me. He was in the slipstream but not faster than me. I check on the board the distance from Nicky and try to make the calculations so I can arrive to him and I think maybe I can but two laps from the end I say 'f**k, maybe is difficult' because I don't know if I can overtake but after Nicky try for the podium with Bradl, he lose a bit of time in the fight and so we can reach one position. Nicky made a very aggressive pass and Bradl give back to him the same but this is the last lap and it have to be like this. It was funny." 

By David Miller

Image by Bonnie Lane