MotoGP Silverstone, Rossi: Frustrating to lose after so many laps in the lead.

Yesterday Valentino had indicated the third step of the podium as the best possible result and that is where he finished today, but after 17 out of 20 laps leading the race, perhaps he expected more. “I’ll admit it. I had begun to taste victory in my mouth and until 5 laps from the end I thought I could do it” he admits.

Then what happened?
“It’s always the usual problem. There was deterioration in the finale so I had to slow down a few tenths and that was enough for Andrea and Maverick to overtake me, without being able to counterattack. It was frustrating.”

Are you angry?
“No, if anything a bit disappointed. Anyway, a podium is a nice way to celebrate my 300 Grand Prix races in the premier class, plus I know that I gave it my all. I rode well and I didn’t make any mistakes. There was nothing more I could have done today.”

It wasn’t a mistake to play the role of the hare?
“I would have preferred to stay behind Marquez and Crutchlow, catch a tow from them, but when you think about one thing, the opposite always happens (he laughs). At the end of the day, it went fine like this. I stayed out of trouble and I wasn’t pushing to the limit. I was riding smoothly.”

Viñales placed his bet on the soft rear tyre. Was that the right choice?
“To be honest, the 3 options that Michelin brings are very similar to one another. The choice is very personal. It depends on the riding style of each rider and his weight. From what my crew chief Galbusera says, they are very similar to the Pirelli tyres in that sense. In any case, I would not have been faster with the soft.”

Have you changed your mind about your chances for the Championship after this result?
“I am still sceptical and realistic. A gap of 26 points is not a lot, but I am 4th in the standings and we still have the problem of the final laps. It is a technical limit and I will give my full support to solve it. It is something that happened to me on the Yamaha with Michelins 10 years ago, before switching to the Bridgestones. We need to get the rear tyre to work better.”

So what is the primary goal?
“Getting back to winning before thinking about the title, being protagonists in the races like we were here. In the end, the result today was above my expectations.”

Who are the favourites for the title?
“Dovizioso and Marquez. I understand very well what Marc went through today. The same happened to me last year at Mugello and I was desperate. When you crash you take the blame and you know that it can also happen to others, but with a blown engine everything is different.”

Is Dovizioso surprising you?
“A bit. It had been a while since he had won… but now he is getting a taste for it, I even said that to him (he laughs). Andrea has great talent and dedication to the job.”

Misano awaits…
“It is nice for Italy and I would like to have a nice duel against Dovi, because lately when he passes me he is too fast then (he laughs). There is respect between the two of us. On the track he is aggressive, but he is also a fair rival.”

Make a prediction for the Championship…
“I would like us to arrive in Valencia with 5 riders tied for points and then I would like free practice, qualifying and warm up to be sunny… and then I’d like it to chuck down rain for the race (he laughs).”

Source: http://gpone.com

RACE:

1. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP17) 40m 45.496s 
2. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 40m 45.610s 
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 40m 46.245s 
4. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 40m 47.175s 
5. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP17) 40m 49.004s 
6. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 40m 52.497s 
7. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 40m 56.440s 
8. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac (GP16) 40m 59.123s 
9. Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 41m 1.157s 
10. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar (GP16) 41m 10.775s 
11. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 41m 15.832s 
12. Tito Rabat ESP EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 41m 17.105s 
13. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar (GP15) 41m 17.441s 
14. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia (GP16) 41m 19.063s 
15. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia (GP15) 41m 19.397s 
16. Jack Miller AUS EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 41m 28.508s 
17. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 41m 34.179s 
Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) DNF 
Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac (GP17) DNF 
Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) DNF 
Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) DNF 
Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* DNF 

Riders' World Championship:

1. ^1 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP17) 183 points 
2. ˅1 Marc Marquez SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) 174 points (-9)
3. = Maverick Viñales SPA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 170 points (-13)
4. = Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 157 points (-26)
5. = Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) 148 points (-35)
6. = Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 109 points (-74)
7. = Jorge Lorenzo SPA Ducati Team (GP17) 90 points (-93)
8. ^1 Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 89 points (-94)
9. ˅1 Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 77 points (-106)
10. = Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac (GP17) 75 points (-108)
11. = Alvaro Bautista SPA Pull&Bear Aspar (GP16) 58 points (-125)
12. ^3 Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac (GP16) 45 points (-138)
13. ˅1 Aleix Espargaro SPA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 43 points (-140)
14. ˅1 Jack Miller AUS EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 43 points (-140)
15. ˅1 Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia (GP15) 39 points (-144)
16. = Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 33 points (-150)
17. = Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar (GP15) 28 points (-155)
18. = Tito Rabat SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 27 points (-156)
19. = Pol Espargaro SPA Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 26 points (-157)
20. = Hector Barbera SPA Reale Avintia (GP16) 23 points (-160)
21. = Alex Rins SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 19 points (-164)
22. = Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 8 points (-175)
23. = Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Team (GP17) 7 points (-176)
24. = Mika Kallio FIN Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 6 points (-177)
25. = Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 2 points (-181)
26. = Sylvain Guintoli FRA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1 points (-182)