ROSSI BACK ON THE BOX
But says problems aren’t fixed,
Valentino Rossi is refusing to get too confident after finishing third due to the nature of Le Mans playing more of a role in fixing their woes than any breakthrough with the Yamaha M1. Struggling to find the speed they need from this year’s bike even though they’re aware the solution lies within the bike’s control electronics, Rossi says his impressive ride to a podium return doesn’t signify the end of their issues.
He said: “I would like to say that what we’ve learned will help us at other tracks, but unfortunately it was the track in Le Mans that helped us. We don’t have particular problems, it’s just that our opponents are a little bit faster than us now. Historically Mugello is a good track for us though,
‘I would like to say what we have learned will help at other tracks’
and it should be a special weekend. “I don’t think the secret is to start working on the 2019 bike and to stop developing this one. With Yamaha the bike is always improved step by step, in small details. It’s not like Formula One where they change the rules every year and you have the 2019 car that’s completely different from 2018. It’s small work on small details that complete the package and that’s the way we have to continue.”
And while he might have had a strong result, things weren’t any better for team-mate and 2017 race winner Maverick Viñales. Running for much of the race outside the top ten, a late charge let him take seventh – but he nonetheless finished the race even more dejected than Rossi.