Rossi: I’m closer to Lorenzo than it looks

MotoGP News

Date: 5/March/2013

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi lost time and places during the second official pre-season test, but insisted the difference to team-mate and reigning Champion Jorge Lorenzo is smaller than it appears.

Rossi, 34, has returned to Yamaha to try and revive his illustrious career after two humbling seasons at Ducati, where he failed to win a race for the first time since joining the World Championship in 1996.

The Italian kicked off the year in style by finishing third and just 0.442s from the top at the first Sepang test session, but slipped to fifth overall and 0.780s behind team-mate and pace setter Lorenzo during the return visit.

“For me the real gap is less,” insisted Rossi. “Because Jorge worked very well and had zero problems. All the Yamaha problems this week were just on my bike! Electrical problems on day one and day two, brake problems on day three.

“I was close to Jorge until we started to struggle with our problems, so for me the real gap is less than half a second. But for sure Lorenzo is faster than me right now.”

Rossi also feels that he is chasing Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez.

“The Hondas are very fast, Pedrosa but also Marquez. The reality is that the first three guys are very fast and it looks like we need to improve a bit if we want to fight for the podium and victory.

“After the first test I was happier because it was a big step compared to last year with the Ducati. But we still have time.”

During the final day of testing Rossi was able to ride with rookie Marquez for half a dozen laps, giving him a close-up view of the reigning Moto2 World Champion’s thrilling style.

Rossi said: “It was very funny to watch him. Marquez is very spectacular. The bike moves and slides all the time and he touches his elbow on the track in the corners. He is very good and already so fast.”

The Honda and Yamaha teams will now take part in a private test session at the new Austin circuit in America, before the final official pre-season MotoGP test is held at Jerez, Spain from 23-25 March.