Rossi keen to erase Silverstone Ducati MotoGP memories

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi goes into this weekend Silverstone MotoGP round riding a competitive bike for the first time and is keen to erase the memories of his two years on a Ducati a the Northamptonshire circuit.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi goes into this weekend Silverstone MotoGP round riding a competitive bike for the first time and is keen to erase the memories of his two years on a Ducati a the Northamptonshire circuit.

Two years ago, The Doctor finished sixth and a minute behind the leader while last year was not much better: ninth and 36s in arrears. He wants a result on Sunday but isn’t counting Cal Crutchlow out as someone who will roll over in order for him to get it. 

"For me, I have very bad performance and very bad memories in Silverstone but I race just with Ducati so I want to try the track with the Yamaha. And also it is a good racetrack for the Yamaha because Jorge is very fast but also Cal last year and if he wasn't injured he would have been more strong,” said Rossi, speaking at Brno.

"But I think Cal will do a fantastic weekend because this year he is very strong everywhere and I think he feel the extra motivation and I think he will be very strong.

"In Brno I was hoping to go a little better and I'm glad that there is immediately the Grand Prix at Silverstone to get back on track. My team and I want to improve the bike to be able to keep the pace of the leaders. We are not far away and the Grand Prix at Silverstone will help us to understand something more. Silverstone is a very fast track and the Yamaha should be fine. We are ready to do our best. We want to move forward as soon as possible.”

For our ten page Silverstone MotoGP preview, get the new issue of Bikesport News, out tomorrow

By David Miller

Image by Bonnie Lane