Valentino Rossi is back at MotorLand Aragón with Petronas Yamaha after missing last year’s MotoGP double-header due to contracting Covid-19.

The Spanish circuit is one of the few where the Italian has not claimed a race win, however he has appeared on the podium three times between 2010 and 2019. Aware of the tricky track’s demands on tyre grip, Rossi is hopeful he can find the solution that cost him so severely at Silverstone a fortnight ago.

“Aragon is a particular track with an interesting layout,” Rossi explained. “In the past, it was not my best track, I was not very strong. Although I have been on the podium a few times, I have never won there. The layout of the track is good and it’s fast, but riding it is tricky. You have to be especially smooth in this circuit to be strong at the end of the race.

“Last year, I didn't race for the Covid, unfortunately, but we have to try to find a good feeling with the bike during the weekend, try to be faster and after we see what happens in the race. The conditions are very different compared to the last years, and especially compared to last year, because last year the problem was that it was too cold. Now it looks like very hot, so we need to understand the way to work on the bike and the tyre to use, and we will see.”

Tyres were also the issue last time out at the BritishGP, with Rossi dropping from sixth in the opening laps, to finish at the back of the pack, ahead of rookie teammate Jake Dixon.
 
“For me, Pecco, for example in Silverstone was very strong all the weekend, except the race, so is a different situation, I mean, more strange. For me personally, unfortunately, the problem is a bit worse. For me, these tyres are very soft and I always suffered this. Especially in the last years because the last rear tyre is also softer.

“In Silverstone I had some chance to make a good race if we can use the hard - because I need the hard and with the hard in the practice I was a lot faster. But after, unfortunately, it was too cold, so we had to choose the medium, because with the low temperature, the hard didn't work. Unfortunately, after five/six laps for me, I was already in trouble, so we have to try to find the solution to improve. Depends from track by track, because for example Silverstone is a very demanding track for the tyres, for the rear tyre.

"Looks like in the future, also already from next year, maybe the tyre change a little bit, but unfortunately for me it's too late! So we have to try the maximum to the end.

“This is a very important race for Quartararo because on the paper Aragon is not a Yamaha track,” Rossi said, turning his attention to his fellow Yamaha rider. “In the past, we always suffer, especially the rear tyre degradation, so would be not easy, but if we can be strong and competitive also here in Aragon, I think that is very, very important for his championship but you know, every year is different. We need to understand from tomorrow the work of the tyre on the track.”

Once again, Jake Dixon joins Rossi in the Petronas garage as Franky Morbidelli continues to recover from his knee surgery. With the Italian expected to be back for his home race at Misano next weekend, his mentor and friend explained the ongoing situation.

“Franco together with Carlo, they are fighting against the time, because the surgery was serious - because the injury to the knee of Franco was quite bad,” Rossi admitted. “So they make the deep surgery, everything is good, but the reeducation is very strong. I saw that Franky suffer a lot. Need a lot, a lot of effort every day and now, in the last period is better, is improved, and he will try. He will try for Misano and I hope that they can be good.”