#MotoGP2016 - Before and Aftermath of the first race of #VR46

Valentino Rossi: “I‘m happy about the test and about today because, first of all, we did a good job and tried a lot of different stuff that gave some good information on how to improve the bike. I also set a 2‘00.5s, I think we can work on it and do better, but I‘m in second place so that‘s not so bad, it was a good test. We still have to work a lot, the question mark that remains is if we go with the bike that‘s more like the 2015 or the 2016 model. We will try them another time in Phillip Island, because the new one was not so bad at the end. I think all the engineers did a good job with the electronics and Michelin did a good job with the front tyres. We tried other tyres that also improved more, so I feel good about the first test. I tried the winglets, they are very interesting, they change the airflow, but I don‘t feel a difference. I prefer the bike without the wings, it‘s more beautiful!”

just by looking at his "team mate"..

The Doctor apparently needs to join the winglet fans cus it makes a huge difference, Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi admitted that although he only finished a couple of seconds behind yesterday’s Qatar MotoGP winner Jorge Lorenzo, he didn’t have enough pace to be in the podium fight.

VR46 finished the race in 4th place and although he was sniffing around the rear tires of Marquez and Dovisioso he admits not having the speed to attempt an attack. Though Rossi, also dampened this by saying he is competitive and he is not done yet, so perhaps further testing with the soft rear as used by his Movistar Yamaha team-mate could improve drastically his performance.

The Doctors words: “At the end it was a great race, the pace was very fast from the beginning to the end, but unfortunately I stayed behind and I didn’t have enough speed to try and attack. I was there but I was never in the real fight, I was always a little bit behind. We need a faster pace and maybe the tyre choice can make some difference, but we don’t know. Maybe with the soft tyre I could go faster or I could go slower,”

“We arrived behind and unfortunately didn’t get on the podium, but it was a good race anyway, with a good start. We are there, we have to work, but for sure we are competitive. Last year in Argentina was a great race, one of the best with a great pace and I was coming from behind, but this year it will be a different story, especially with the tyres. We need to understand our potential this year.” go #VR46 !!