MotoGP: Rossi takes to the track with Asian talent

Valentino Rossi has taken to the track with the five up and coming Asian riders currently being hosted at his VR46 Ranch, as part of Yamaha’s new program to develop talent from closer to home.

The five riders, from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia, are part of a new initiative launched by the firm, who have hand-picked up the five as future MotoGP racers.

Joining Rossi and Andrea Migno and Francesco Bagnaia on track at the ranch’s flat track, the nine-time champion admitted afterwards that he was left impressed.

“We are only at the halfway point of the first Yamaha VR46 Master Camp and already I see the guys are very happy. They are having fun and are interested in whatever is being taught to them and this allows them to learn everything very quickly.

“They are doing different exercises to gain experience during this Master Camp. They have been at the gym along with the VR46 Riders Academy riders, they attended a theoretical lesson about suspensions and today they have trained with me and the Academy Boys at the Ranch.

“They are really good with the flat track bikes and they go very fast! I did several laps with them and I like how they ride! They also had a race and I enjoyed watching them on track, fighting for the glory to be the champions of the first Master Camp race at the Motor Ranch.”

The five riders, Peerapong Loiboonpeng, Galang Hendra Pratama, Soichiro Manimimoto, Kasma Daniel Bin Kasmayudin and Imanuel Putra Pratna, will remain in Italy for another two days this week, completing a five-day trip.