Valentino Rossi: ‘I need to be faster for the podium’

Valentino Rossi might have been happy to have finished fifth quickest in today’s opening MotoGP practice at Phillip Island, but the Italian admits he needs to improve his pace to claim a 14th podium finish in Australia.

The Italian set a best time of 1.29.537 to finish just over 0.5s behind factory Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, as the MotoGP field took advantage of sunny but windy conditions and a new track surface to set impressive lap times at the spectacular Phillip Island track.

Rossi was happy with his speed on the opening day to finish just 0.130s behind Sepang winner Dani Pedrosa and he said: “It has been a good day, especially this afternoon and I am happy with my pace. I am very constant in the 29s, which is good, but I have to improve a little in the final section. I have some difficulty to turn the bike. 

“I have some understeer and lose some acceleration off the final corner. Also I want to improve the overall balance of the bike, which is so important here and at the same time remain with good rear grip, especially on the left side at this track. I need to improve the balance of the bike on corner entry to put the bike straight and open the throttle in acceleration.

“I made my best lap on a tyre with 23 laps on and I am very constant. But if I want to be on the podium, I have to beat one of the three top guys, so I have to go faster. I am close but I need to improve to staywith the three Spaniards.”

Rossi was one of several riders raving about the new asphalt at Phillip Island, which saw the top six today all lapping under Nicky Hayden’s 2008 lap record of 1.30.059.
The new surface has eradicated the majority of the bumps that riders had frequently complained about in previous years and also improved grip levels.

Nine-times world champion Rossi said the significantly improved asphalt was worth a second a lap and he added: “The track is fantastic with the new asphalt and every lap is a great pleasure. They made a great job.

“The grip is better, but especially there are a lot less bumps and in this weather it is fantastic to ride in Phillip Island. It is worth a minimum of one second.

“Jorge made a 28.9 and last year (Casey) Stoner, who was very fast here, did pole with a 29.6. The weather conditions are better but I think one second each lap is from the new track surface.

“The last and the first corner and Turn 10 had a lot of bumps and now you can make a higher corner speed, so it has been a very good job.”