Rossi : I like what I do, I like my job

“The motivation is very important, especially if you race as long as I have,” noted Rossi. And yet his reason is amazingly simple. “But in this aspect I have no problems because my biggest motivation is the pleasure that gives me to ride a bike, try to be every time stronger, to improve the bike, to work with the team…I like what I do, I like my job.” Said Valentino Rossi

Many were expecting Rossi to retire after his Ducati contract was finished, but the Italian re-signed with Yamaha for two years in 2013, and he renewed the contract for another two in the midst of last season. “I have a contract signed with Yamaha for this season and the next, so surely I will keep the next two years trying to stay at the top. After, I don’t know, I haven’t decided yet.”

And what about his expectations for the future? When we asked if he could achieve his 10th title before retirement, he answered, “The year of my 10th championship? Good question, it would be great to know (when)? The goal is to certainly to try. I think there are chances because I am arriving from two years in which I have been always growing, especially between 2013 and 2014, and at the end of last season I was always competitive. I got a lot of points, I got many times on the podium, but to win the championship is very complicated, is much more difficult”

Rossi also had high praise for his crew chief Silvano Galbusera, who was controversially brought in by Rossi to replace his long-time crew chief Jeremy Burgess at the conclusion of 2013 season. “Galbusera did it very well last year in his first MotoGP season. With this one year experience, I think he may improve related with me as well as with the bike”.

“Yamaha’s way of working is always similar. I know Yamaha since many years and I have learned to trust them because they try to improve all the areas of the bikes step by step through a very logical and intelligent work without stressing the basic project. At the end of the season the M1 was quite fast on acceleration exiting the corners and on the straights, a very positive aspects for Yamaha. I want to keep this for this season. We need to improve a little bit on braking, entering into the corners; we are trying.