Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Rossi explains worst-ever MotoGP qualifying result

Valentino Rossi says he was “never strong” on Saturday of the Doha Grand Prix, after registering his worst-ever MotoGP qualifying result of 21st.

Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The Petronas SRT Yamaha rider had to go through this evening’s Q1 session and was unable to make any impression, having admitted after Friday he wasn’t “strong enough” to fight for a top result.

In the end Rossi only managed a 1m54.881s, some 1.7 seconds slower than his Qatar GP lap which put him fourth on the grid, and 1.7s off rookie polesetter Jorge Martin on the Pramac Ducati.

This meant Rossi will line up 21st for Sunday’s race – his worst-ever Saturday result in MotoGP.

Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Explaining what went wrong on Saturday, Rossi said: “Very difficult today because I was never strong.

“We tried to improve the feeling with the bike, with the rear, but I suffered very much.

“I have a lack of grip in acceleration and also after some laps anyway… I suffer a lot and my pace is not good.

“Also, in the qualifying with the new tyre I never have the feeling to be fast enough.

“Last week I was good with the new tyres, and like this we tried to do something for improve the life but unfortunately I’m not fast enough.

“Will be difficult, I have to start from behind. We have to understand and we will see.”

Read Also:

Rossi’s performance is in stark contrast to his Yamaha stablemates', with Maverick Vinales completing the front row on the same 2021 M1 as the Italian, with Fabio Quartararo fifth and Franco Morbidelli 10th on his ‘A-spec’ Yamaha.

Admitting he is “in trouble” with his race pace, Rossi simply hopes to not be cast too far adrift of the pack ahead of him in Sunday’s Doha GP.

“For tomorrow it’s difficult because I start behind, but I’m a lot in trouble with the pace, the pace is not fast enough,” he added.

"So, I need to try to stay with the group of the guys in front.

“Last week was a long line, so more or less everybody is in a line, so [we] don’t have a big difference between the group. So, try to stay with them and see.”

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation

Related video

Previous article Doha MotoGP: Rookie Martin takes sensational pole, Rossi down in 21st
Next article MotoGP Doha Grand Prix – how to watch, start time, & more

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe