Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi says his gamble on wet tyres and a pitlane start in the Assen MotoGP paid off as he was able to finish in fifth place in a race when risk management was the order of the day.
The Doctor had gone out on slicks but before the warm-up lap, rain began to fall and Rossi dived back into the pits to swap bikes and then waited until the pack streamed past before making his way through before another change to slicks.
“In this situation, is always about how much you want to risk and especially with the weather and the choice. After the first warm-up lap, I decide to put the slick and at that moment, it was a great decision but risk a bit as the track was coming dry very quickly. If the weather had remain it was a great idea,” said Rossi, speaking at the track.
“Unfortunately, on the grid, it rain a little bit for two or three minutes which was bad for me. I was unlucky as I had the wrong choice but from then I make a good decision as I stop in the pit and I was able to change but I have to start from last but with the rain tyres.
“I was already quite fast, overtake and start to recover and after five or six laps, I enter to change and I came in at the right time. After with the dry bike I enjoy. I had a very good pace and did some fastest lap, push hard and recover to finish fifth.
“Is a shame as during the weekend I am always competitive and feel good with the bike so in normal conditions I can fight for sure for the podium and this is good. My laptime in the wet was also good. It could have been a lot worse as fifth I take 11 points and equal with Pedrosa. The positive thing is I was fast and we now have to concentrate on the Sachsenring.”
