Rossi: “You have to give your maximum”

The ‘Doctor’ takes P3 in his 300th premier class start

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) shot off the front row and into the lead of the British GP, holding the advantage for most of the race until Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) were able to reel him in and get past.

The rider from Tavullia gave everything to hit back, just not quite able to do it – but he did fulfill his Saturday prediction by completing the podium in third. Happy enough with that, Rossi is even happier about the marked improvement made at a Misano test day and carried into the British GP weekend.

Valentino Rossi, P3: “I’m happy because for me it was a very good race after a good weekend, I made a good start and was able to ride well and give the maximum all race. This weekend we’ve improved and understood something important. In Misano in the test, we worked on the electronics on acceleration to try and save the tyre, nothing big but it worked here. I had good pace and could stay in front and ride the bike in a good way. We were worried because we suffer a bit in the last laps, but with five to go I thought I could do it. But I suffered a bit too much and Dovi and Maverick overtook me. It was a bit frustrating because I wasn’t strong enough to fight to re-overtake them. I tried everything and two or three times I went into corners and didn’t know if I could stop! But I’m happy because the podium was my target and we all arrived close together. To ride Silverstone on a MotoGP bike with this weather is really fun. It’s a great way to have my 300th race, in front a lot and fighting for the victory – that’s the goal, to continue as long as I can fight with the top guys.

“I think more than pressure from the Championship what’s more important is how you’ve felt on the bike since Friday. It’s something special because normally you fight with two or three riders, but this year it’s five. I saw Marquez out and I think it’s important to know in a Championship like this, but it didn’t change anything because I just wanted to win. You have to give your maximum anyway. I’m realistic, always. I’m happy to be there and I’ll give my everything but I’m not strong enough on the last laps to fight for the Championship - so we have to work to improve this problem.”

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