Valentino Rossi is leaving the Qatar MotoGP test with ‘good feelings’ after his first outing with Petronas SRT squad.
Rossi’s first chance to ride the SRT-liveried M1 and acclimatise to his new team for 2021 proved positive for the veteran Italian with various parts tested over the four days and 212 laps.
Approving both the new chassis and cowling options, the 41-year-old’s highlight of the Qatar test came on Thursday with a personal best lap around the Losail International Circuit as he broke into the 1’53’s for the first time in his considerable career.
With poor conditions preventing any running for the majority of Friday’s scheduled seven-hour session, 2021’s solo preseason test ended with Rossi 11th overall in the combined times, thanks to his best lap of 1’53.993s, but optimistic of the improvements made.
“We wasted one day but fortunately yesterday we did all the important work,” the Italian explained at the close of Friday. “At the end, it’s a shame because we still have some stuff to try and also, try make a long run, like a race simulation, but the conditions were a disaster!
"Have a lot of sand and a lot of wind. Fortunately, we know, the forecaster said this, so yesterday, anyway, we did the importance of the job.
“After four days of test, the balance is positive, because especially in the last two days we improved a lot the bike, the grip, the feeling. I can ride in a better way. I was a lot faster than last year in the time attack and especially the race pace. I was good, it was quite strong and we improve day by day, so I think we are quite ready for the start.”
Looking at his first preseason with the Petronas team, how does the MotoGP legend feel his competitiveness and this winter’s preparation compares to those of recent years?
"The positive is that Yamaha worked in a clever way during the winter and they brought here some good things like the new chassis and aerodynamics. This is very important because for me in the last years we have a lot of problems to improve.
“The second positive thing is the feeling with the new team and with all my staff, is beautiful, the atmosphere is good. So these two things make me happy.
“[Regarding competitiveness] is difficult to say, because after the race weekend and especially the race, is always different because you are all together so you have some other factor to understand, but I think with the bike, I feel better than last year. We are in the pack, especially with race pace, we are not too bad, so, we will see.
“The problem is that also a lot of different riders and different bikes are very fast and faster than last year but we try to be there. To understand the level, we need to wait for the first race but I leave Qatar with good feelings.
“Now we have another 10 days, training, relaxing and trying to arrive ready.”
While the final day of the test recorded little action on track, there was an important development off-site, with the entire paddock offered Covid-19 vaccinations ahead of the opening race. Having already contracted and suffered the virus’ complications throughout last season, Rossi was one of the many riders to accept the Qatari government’s offer.
“Yes, we did the vaccine this morning,” Rossi confirmed “and I’m very happy because it’s a great step for our normal life during the season. Without having the nightmare to see somebody who has Covid and miss two, three races like happened to me last year. I think that Carmelo with Dorna, together with Qatar, they give to us a big help and I’m very happy.”
