Photography by Gold & Goose
Valentino Rossi clings to a one-point lead in the MotoGP Championship after seven races. He ran on equal footing with Yamaha teammate and race winner Jorge Lorenzo once he broke to the front at Catalunya today, but he said the difference for him was his starting position and pace in the early laps.
Rossi qualified seventh for the race and it took him four laps to work his way up to second and by that time Lorenzo was 1.4 seconds ahead. Even though Rossi ran almost identical laps times, he could not substantially close the gap.
He believes if he can manage to get better qualifying results he should be able to contend for race wins.
“I hope, because I know it’s difficult, but this time I was OK with the bike,” Rossi said when asked if he thought he could catch Lorenzo once he moved into second. “Unfortunately starting from the third row I lose just a second enough in the first laps. Also if I was stronger in the first lap.”
Rossi went on to say he was happy with the pace he was able to run during most of the race.
“After I stay always there,” he said of running with his teammate once into second. “I’m happy because I had a good pace and a good setting. I think my speed is equal to Jorge in the race today. He’s a good target. So after seven races we have one point difference in the championship. We have more or less the same speed. It will be Interesting I think.”
