MotoGP, Valentino Rossi speaks with emotion: “It was the most dangerous moment of my career” – Paddock GP
Rossi MotoGP Valentino
In more than twenty years of MotoGP, Valentino Rossi has many anecdotes up his sleeve. Each of his press appearances is an opportunity to delve back into the history of our favorite discipline, which he has left his mark on. Like all the other greats, he has often fallen, and sometimes very violently. The nine-time world champion Today, he looks back on one of the worst moments of his career, which could have ended in real tragedy.
For his birthday – he is now 46 years old – “The Doctor” spoke at length to the Italian media outlet Corriere della Serra. We all know his successes, of course, but his periods of doubt and convalescence, much less. He first returned to his open fracture of the right tibia-fibula, a terrible injury resulting from a huge accident at Mugello in 2010. « I have never been in so much pain. Pain like that is unbearable, and the vision was just as unbearable. You could see the bone sticking out of your leg, and I felt like a part of my body had come loose » he said. This terrible injury only caused him to miss four races: he was even back on the top step of the podium in Malaysia, twelve rounds later.
Sometimes you wonder if riders feel fear, but it is clear that they manage to overcome it, if it exists. Because after terrible accidents like the one mentioned above, they start again with even more confidence, even more. However, fear is never far away, especially when tragedy is narrowly avoided. This was the case at the Red Bull Ring in 2020, when the bikes of Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco nearly clipped Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales, who was in front of him. Miraculously, no one was hurt. « Morbidelli’s motorcycle passed me like a bullet. It was the scariest moment of my career, and it precipitated my retirement at the end of 2021. The next morning, I was happy to be in one piece. I was very lucky » he added.
During this emotional sequence, he could not help but mention the fate of his friend Marco Simoncelli, who died during the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix. “We just passed his birthday, January 20th. Fortunately, thoughts soften with time.. I tell myself that it’s a shame not to have seen him grow up, to see what he would have done in MotoGP, generous as he was. It’s a regret I will always have. » he concluded.
What does this 2020 accident bring to mind for you? Tell us in the comments!
Franco Morbidelli in Spielberg in 2020, moments before the accident. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
Nicholas Bulega entered the history books of the Australian Superbike round, not only taking three victories, but also finishing first in all the sessions World SBK that took place at the Phillip Island circuit, including the four that took place during the two days of testing earlier in the week!
In total, there were no fewer than 12 sessions, including 3 races, that the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider dominated, sometimes alone as in race 1, sometimes having to fight as in this morning’s Superpole race. At this level, we can truly speak of a grand slam, an expression that includes four tennis tournaments, but we can also wonder who will be able to hinder the Italian’s triumphant march, looking a priori for candidates among the troops of Borgo Panigale, the BoP (Balance of Performance) appearing clearly less balanced in Superbike than in Supersport, to the benefit of Ducati…
The first answers will come with the return to Europe, on theAlgarve International Motorway from March 28 to 30, where everything will be different from the very atypical Australian circuit: the layout, its surface, but also the weather conditions, and therefore the softer Pirelli tires.
While waiting to find out if the #11 will be as untouchable on our continent, he is bathing in a real bubble of happiness and already has a 26-point lead over his teammate Alvaro Bautista in the general classification of the Superbike World Championship.
Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11): “Yes, now you can say I’m the favourite! I’m very happy because it’s my first WorldSBK hat-trick. It’s incredible to do it at my favourite track. I want to go home and celebrate! I’m proud of what we’ve achieved this weekend. My bike has been perfect since Monday’s practice until the last lap of Race 2. I’ve enjoyed every lap this week. We can be competitive again in Portimao, even if it won’t be easy, but I’m confident. Last year I came second despite a high fever, and I think we can be competitive again. Toprak will be very fast there, as will Alvaro and other riders. I’ll try to maintain this level, even if it will be difficult. I don’t think Ducati and I will always be as strong, it’s impossible to be everywhere, but we’ll work hard to stay competitive and I can’t hide that I’m delighted with this weekend.” It is clear that the results are there and visible to everyone, but what gives me the most satisfaction is the feeling with the bike, which has been perfect since the tests. I want to thank the team for their extraordinary work.
Superbike general classification after Phillip Island in Australia:
Classification credit: WorldSBK.com
Nicolò Bulega Australia
Rossi MotoGP Valentino
In more than twenty years of MotoGP, Valentino Rossi has many anecdotes up his sleeve. Each of his press appearances is an opportunity to delve back into the history of our favorite discipline, which he has left his mark on. Like all the other greats, he has often fallen, and sometimes very violently. The nine-time world champion Today, he looks back on one of the worst moments of his career, which could have ended in real tragedy.
For his birthday – he is now 46 years old – “The Doctor” spoke at length to the Italian media outlet Corriere della Serra. We all know his successes, of course, but his periods of doubt and convalescence, much less. He first returned to his open fracture of the right tibia-fibula, a terrible injury resulting from a huge accident at Mugello in 2010. « I have never been in so much pain. Pain like that is unbearable, and the vision was just as unbearable. You could see the bone sticking out of your leg, and I felt like a part of my body had come loose » he said. This terrible injury only caused him to miss four races: he was even back on the top step of the podium in Malaysia, twelve rounds later.
Sometimes you wonder if riders feel fear, but it is clear that they manage to overcome it, if it exists. Because after terrible accidents like the one mentioned above, they start again with even more confidence, even more. However, fear is never far away, especially when tragedy is narrowly avoided. This was the case at the Red Bull Ring in 2020, when the bikes of Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco nearly clipped Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales, who was in front of him. Miraculously, no one was hurt. « Morbidelli’s motorcycle passed me like a bullet. It was the scariest moment of my career, and it precipitated my retirement at the end of 2021. The next morning, I was happy to be in one piece. I was very lucky » he added.
During this emotional sequence, he could not help but mention the fate of his friend Marco Simoncelli, who died during the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix. “We just passed his birthday, January 20th. Fortunately, thoughts soften with time.. I tell myself that it’s a shame not to have seen him grow up, to see what he would have done in MotoGP, generous as he was. It’s a regret I will always have. » he concluded.
What does this 2020 accident bring to mind for you? Tell us in the comments!
Franco Morbidelli in Spielberg in 2020, moments before the accident. Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
Nicholas Bulega entered the history books of the Australian Superbike round, not only taking three victories, but also finishing first in all the sessions World SBK that took place at the Phillip Island circuit, including the four that took place during the two days of testing earlier in the week!
In total, there were no fewer than 12 sessions, including 3 races, that the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider dominated, sometimes alone as in race 1, sometimes having to fight as in this morning’s Superpole race. At this level, we can truly speak of a grand slam, an expression that includes four tennis tournaments, but we can also wonder who will be able to hinder the Italian’s triumphant march, looking a priori for candidates among the troops of Borgo Panigale, the BoP (Balance of Performance) appearing clearly less balanced in Superbike than in Supersport, to the benefit of Ducati…
The first answers will come with the return to Europe, on theAlgarve International Motorway from March 28 to 30, where everything will be different from the very atypical Australian circuit: the layout, its surface, but also the weather conditions, and therefore the softer Pirelli tires.
While waiting to find out if the #11 will be as untouchable on our continent, he is bathing in a real bubble of happiness and already has a 26-point lead over his teammate Alvaro Bautista in the general classification of the Superbike World Championship.
Nicholas Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11): “Yes, now you can say I’m the favourite! I’m very happy because it’s my first WorldSBK hat-trick. It’s incredible to do it at my favourite track. I want to go home and celebrate! I’m proud of what we’ve achieved this weekend. My bike has been perfect since Monday’s practice until the last lap of Race 2. I’ve enjoyed every lap this week. We can be competitive again in Portimao, even if it won’t be easy, but I’m confident. Last year I came second despite a high fever, and I think we can be competitive again. Toprak will be very fast there, as will Alvaro and other riders. I’ll try to maintain this level, even if it will be difficult. I don’t think Ducati and I will always be as strong,
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