Rossi: I just want a win

The Doctor keeps cagey about his 2013 prospects

Posted: 28 January 2013
by Visordown News

IN an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Valentino Rossi has attempted to douse the flames of fan expectation for the coming season, stating that his current goal is just to win a race.

Speaking to the Italian sports paper, he said: 'The goal is to win a GP - I haven't done so since 2010. If I didn't win, but was on the podium every Sunday, that would be good. But the victory is the watershed.'

'I do not know my potential. With the M1 I will be more competitive, but for what? Fourth, podium, victory? I do not know.'

The MotoGP world is waiting eagerly to discover how Rossi will fare on the Yamaha on his return after two bleak years at Ducati.

In the same interview, he was also quick to recognize the challenge presented by team mate Jorge Lorenzo and Honda's Dani Pedrosa: 'It will be hard to get as strong as Pedrosa and Jorge. I'll get there steadily. I'll commit myself.'

When provocatively asked whether he would prefer to finish second after team mate Jorge Lorenzo (which whom he has enjoyed a tempestuous relationship in the past), or third behind the two Honda riders (Pedrosa and Marc Marquez), Rossi diplomatically responded the former.

A new, mellower Rossi for 2013?

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Rossi, Motogp 2012, motogp 2013, Valentino Rossi, jorge lorenzo, dani pedrosa

Discuss this story

mxs mxs 3

Isn't he, eh?

Maybe he is starting to see the writing on the wall and prepares his faithful for a rude awakening.

I am curious myself how will it pan out.

Posted: 28/01/2013 at 13:10

Pagik

And no, before anyone says it, I'm not saying this because I'm a fan. I'm saying this because he's still got what it takes. Anyone that writes off VR for a win or 2 this year is fooling themselves.

He's still a bug threat, maybe not for the title. But he's gonna be no "also ran".

Posted: 28/01/2013 at 14:19

Bradl-ey

he'll win

Posted: 29/01/2013 at 13:21

smilo996

He is too clever and there will be the inevitable crashes and injuries during the season for him not to win. The real question is how many and where in the championship he is capable of coming.

Posted: 30/01/2013 at 05:44

Aki

He has always played down his expectations pre season so there's nothing new there.
I think it will be a closer season this year, the two top guys will be battling it out again but with possible wins from Rossi and Marquez or certainly podiums and the inclusion in there of the likes of Cal the points will be far more spread out and not just divided up between Pedrosa and Lorenzo?
Some predict Marquez will be crash happy at first but I'm not so sure, if I'm right this will be the first season where a top rider from moto2 has progressed to a top motogp team? Is it such a great leap anymore that it was from 250 to motogp?

Posted: 30/01/2013 at 10:27

Pagik

Good points raised Aki. I still think Marquez will chuck it down the road a lot. One thing is for certain, it's going to be a FAR better year than it was last year.

It couldn't be much worse. Lots of people will be there or thereabouts.

The reason I think Marquez is gonna chuck it down the road, doesn't really have a lot to do with the gap between Moto 2 and Moto GP. The gaps enormous power wise. But he's proved he can ride the thing already. Just VERY different pounding round on your own to racing (as we all know).

Posted: 30/01/2013 at 11:03

Leon Trotsky

I simply cannot imagine Rossi going the whole season without a win, now he's back on the Yamaaha. Can't really see him taking the title either, TBH, but hopefully 2013 could be the best season in recent years.

Posted: 30/01/2013 at 14:10

kneedown elbow down ive crashed

Mind games of a sad ageing old fool.lorenzo will batter him so will the honda boys.

Posted: 30/01/2013 at 17:50

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