MotoGP Indy - 'Extra grip' slows Rossi for opening laps

Factory Yamaha's Valentino Rossi was slowed by too much grip at the beginning of yesterday's Indianapolis MotoGP race but was able to spin and slide his way to fourth place as his rear tyre wore down.

Factory Yamaha's Valentino Rossi was slowed by too much grip at the beginning of yesterday's Indianapolis MotoGP race but was able to spin and slide his way to fourth place as his rear tyre wore down.

The Doctor struggled for the first ten laps but as the fuel load reduced and grip started to reduce, he was able to up the lap times and push his way into a scrap with Alvaro Bautista and Britain's Cal Crutchlow.

"I have a problem with the new tyre, the extra grip push me a lot on the front and I am in trouble for the entry. I was very, very slow at the beginning. It was very frustrating as I was alone and a long, long race to do but after 10 or 12 laps, I start to improve my pace and go faster and faster," said Rossi, speaking at Indianapolis.

"I start to take Bradl and Bautista and it was a great battle, especially with Cal on the last lap. We were very close but after Cal come to me and say 'You're a bastard!'

"To take a fourth place on this track which I think is the worst for me is not so bad but we have to work hard to stay closer to the top three. 

"We have to understand why because usually the problem is the opposite. The second half give us some positive feeling, my lap time was very good. When the rear start to slide I am able to ride the bike more in oversteer, release the brake 40 metres before, make a lot of corner speed. At the beginning, I wasn't able."

By David Miller

Image by Bonnie Lane