Fit Rossi needs ‘crucial’ Mugello result
LUCO DI MUGELLO, Italy: Home favourite Valentino Rossi has won his fitness race to compete at Mugello where his younger teammate Maverick Vinales believes the Yamaha season could hinge on Sunday’s action.
Seven- time world MotoGP champion Rossi is struggling with chest pains after a motocross training accident that saw him hospitalised last week.
But the MotoGP medical director, Dr Angel Charte, on Thursday found Rossi to be in a suitable condition to take part on home tarmac.
“My condition is improving day by day and this allows me to think a bit more positively about Mugello,” the 38-year-old, who is third in the championship standings, 23 points behind pace setter Vinales, told Motorsport.com.
“I’m not 100 percent and I’m finding it a little hard to breathe, but yesterday (Wednesday) I went for a ride and it went well,” said Rossi, who hurt his ribs when falling on the handlebars.
“The chief worry is if I can hold out throughout a long race with all those turns where you have to take deep breaths.
“But frankly I’m lucky to be here, I could easily have broken something and it’s great to be at Mugello getting ready to try it out tomorrow.”
Rossi made an uncharacteristic error to allow Vinales to snatch a stunning victory after a breathless battle at Le Mans two weeks ago as the younger man clinched his third GP win from five so far this season.
The 22- year- old feel s the upcoming back-to-back MotoGPs in Italy and Catalonia suit his bike and his style and may allow him to take control of the campaign.
“We have a really good bike for a circuit like Mugello, with a really good grip, and we have to make the most of that,” said Vinales in regard to the flowing Tuscany track with a mixture of uphill and downhill sections, a variety of fast and slow turns (six left, nine right), and a longest straight measuring 1.14km.
“With the championship being as competitive as it is, the next rounds will be all- decisive and it will be crucial to take the victory in Mugello,” said a determined Vinales, who will target a third pole of the season on Saturday.
Movistar-Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli said fans at what is their home GP would provide the impulse but chose his words carefully when talking about his charges.