[visordown.com] - Rossi proves form with another podium

[Ninjette Newsbot]

YAMAHA’S Valentino Rossi has proved once again that he can still remain competitive by finishing second on the podium at the French Grand Prix.

Despite starting from fifth on the grid Rossi took full advantage of Marc Marquez’s mistakes in the beginning half of the race only to make his own mistake allowing the young World Champion through to win his fifth successive MotoGP race.

After the Le Mans race, Rossi explained: “I’m very happy about the race and the result. I did a very good start and when I saw (Andrea) Dovizoso and (Stefan) Bradl in front I knew I could go faster than them and I overtook them.

“I felt good with the bike, I got in front and I tried and tried. Today was a little bit more difficult with the front maybe because the track was hotter. I tried the maximum and my pace wasn’t bad.

“I was waiting for Marc or for Jorge (Lorenzo) or Dani (Pedrosa) to arrive, especially Marc. When he arrived I tried to push harder and make his job more difficult, but unfortunately at the crucial moment I made a mistake and I broke a little bit too deep.

Talking about his mistake, the Italian said: “I went wide and it’s a great pity because that made it too easy for Marc. If not we would have been able to fight for longer because today I was not too bad. I want to try next time out in Italy in Mugello to have a good weekend and to fight with him again.”

Finishing second at Le Mans allowed Rossi to reach 150 premier class podiums: “I’m happy because 150 is a lot and I’m not far from 200 podiums overall in 300 races. I’ve had a long career but I’m working really hard to still be here.”

As it was announce last week that Marquez has signed another two-year contract with Repsol Honda, Rossi announced on Thursday that he would ideally like to stay with Yamaha until the end of the 2016 season and three podiums in five races so far only increases the chance of Yamaha offering another contract.




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