Aragon win impossible, says Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi says it is unrealistic to consider emulating Casey Stoner’s 2010 victory at the Motorland Aragon next week.

The Motorland Aragon race was the weekend last season when Aussie Stoner made a big breakthrough with the front-end set-up of the GP10 Desmosedici and he went on to win three of the last six races.

But Rossi said it was impossible to believe that he could repeat Stoner’s success, with the current GP11.1 unable to even challenge for the podium at present.

Rossi has scored only one podium finish in his debut season with Ducati, and even the eternally optimistic 32-year-old  accepts that a sudden transformation in fortunes isn’t likely.

The Italian is due to test an aluminium frame in Mugello this week to try and solve some of the vague front-end feeling problems he’s experienced throughout 2011.
But there will be no miracle cure in time for the Motorland Aragon race, which is round 14 of this year’s world championship.

Rossi said: “I don’t think it is possible. Stoner arrived in Aragon and changed very much the way of his season. A lot of people say to me this bike won three of the last six races but for me I say this bike won three of the last 18 races of last year. From that moment Stoner modified the setting and he rode like a devil and he made great results with nothing to lose and he made all or nothing. That is not a criticism of Casey because at this moment I am not able to do like him. In Aragon hopefully we can stay closer. Last year Nicky (Hayden) was very fast but it will be difficult.”