Aragon MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy with rain speed

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi declared himself satisfied after the premier class field encountered a mixed day of weather at the new Motorland Aragon track.

The Fiat Yamaha rider was sixth quickest in dry conditions this morning but much happier after he rode his factory YZR-M1 to fourth on a wet track in this afternoon’s second 45-minute session.

Rossi set a best time of 2.02.878 in the wet to finish just 0.467s behind Nicky Hayden in third and the 31-year-old said:

“It was a good day especially because of the wet practice because after my accident I had only ridden in the wet at Brno in the warm-up and it was very, very bad. I needed some kilometres to reach the right pace with a good feeling. 

“This morning in the dry I suffered with my set-up but this afternoon for the wet we made some changes and I’m fourth, not far from the top and for tomorrow we have some more modifications to try.  It was a good day and it was positive to ride on the wet track.”

The nine-times world champion also declared himself a big fan of the new Motorland Aragon track.

Rossi was impressed with the with the challenging layout, the 5.078km circuit a blend of blind entry corners, hard braking sections and exciting undulation changes.
The Ducati-bound star said:

“The track is very beautiful, I like a lot.  After the first left/right you go up and then do another right/left and after that you close and this is a good section. The Corkscrew and then the long left plus the last corner is very good. It is a good track.”

Asked about his physical condition with his damaged right shoulder still causing him considerable discomfort, Rossi added:

“I have three right corners where I had some pain in the shoulder and after this morning I had more pain than yesterday. But now the situation is clear and my shoulder will stay like this.

“My leg is very good now but my shoulder is giving me some problems and we know we have to manage like this now until the end of the season. It’s easier for the shoulder in the wet but I would still prefer it to be dry because this is a fun track to ride on.”

Rossi will decide after the final race in Valencia in early November whether he will undergo surgery to repair major tendon damage in his right shoulder.
He injured the shoulder during a motocross training accident in April.