Rossi: Podium shows new MotoGP contract right decision

Valentino Rossi says his podium finish at the 2018 MotoGP season opener vindicates his decision to sign a new two-year Movistar Yamaha deal as he can still fight at the front.

The nine-time world champion repeatedly explained he would only continue to race in MotoGP as long as he felt he could compete for wins and after encouraging winter tests the 39-year-old signed a new two-year contract to keep him at the factory Yamaha team until at least the end of 2020.

Rossi: Podium shows new MotoGP contract right decision

Valentino Rossi says his podium finish at the 2018 MotoGP season opener vindicates his decision to sign a new two-year Movistar Yamaha deal as he can still fight at the front.

The nine-time world champion repeatedly explained he would only continue to race in MotoGP as long as he felt he could compete for wins and after encouraging winter tests the 39-year-old signed a new two-year contract to keep him at the factory Yamaha team until at least the end of 2020.

After securing third place behind Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez at the Losail International Circuit, Rossi feels his podium demonstrates he can continue to battle at the front in MotoGP and his age has little to do with his performance.

“In our sport, like all other sports, just one thing is important and that is the result,” Rossi said. “The only important thing that happens is what happens on the track. I don’t race to demonstrate to people that I am not too old, I race to demonstrate to myself that I can race at the top. This is the good way I think.”

Rossi produced an impressive start to the 2018 opener darting from the third row on the grid up to the top three behind pole-sitter Johann Zarco and Marquez, briefly moving ahead of the Repsol Honda rider into second, but struggled to stop pre-race favourite Dovizioso carving past him on his charge to the front.

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Rossi says his pass on Zarco for third place was vital to his podium bid in order to build a gap on “the hunting wolves” having predicted up to 10 riders being in contention for the rostrum in Qatar.

“The problem this year is the first 10 riders have a very similar pace so you have to wait until the race to understand if it is enough for the podium,” he said. “I am also happy because in the last period of the race the fastest riders on the track were Dovizioso and Marquez so we stayed with them until the end and it is a good way to start.

“I tried to fight back with Dovi but in that moment all the wolves behind were getting on me! With Petrucci we entered one corner maybe 20kph too fast and I tried not to lose too much but I know that I had the pace so I didn’t want to lose too much time.

“Without that mistake, could I have fought with them more? Possibly, yes, but I don’t know if I was able to win.

“I’m happy because when Dovi went in front I know they are able to change the rhythm and for me to make the podium it was key to overtake Zarco and give the maximum to try to go with them. I had some points on the track where I was fast and to arrive at the end of the race on the podium is a great way to start.”

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