The nine-time world champion made the trip last weekend to the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, a circuit that has always been devoted to him.
In addition to signing the contract that makes him a Yamaha ambassador, Rossi witnessed on Sunday the victory of Francesco Bagnaia, one of his pupils in the VR46 Riders Academy, who also regained the championship lead.
On Saturday at Jerez, the rider from Tavullia found time to talk to Autosport about everything related to the championship that made him a legend.
Valentino Rossi, Team VR46 with Oriol Puigdemont, Motorsport.com journalist
Photo by: James Allen
Autosport: How has being a father changed your life? Has it helped you to know yourself a little better?
Valentino Rossi: “Being a father is a precious experience. Obviously life changes you, especially the rhythms and some habits, especially in the morning, because you have to wake up early. I waited a long time before deciding to take the step because I thought that combining fatherhood with the demands of the rider was very difficult. Now I think I could have done it sooner. Watching Julieta grow up is a joy.”
AS: Have you had any doubts or fears?
VR: “No, not yet; but I imagine that as Julieta gets older things will get more complicated.”
AS: You left Honda and signed for Yamaha in 2004, and with that move you showed that in the equation between rider and bike the human component prevailed over the mechanical one. Do you still think the same way?
VR: “Things have changed a lot since then; 20 years have gone by. It is true that the bike counts a lot, but if there is something in which the championship has succeeded is that the performance between some bikes and others is very similar. There are ten riders who can win.”
AS: What is the difference between the feeling of putting on the helmet to ride a bike and driving a car?
VR: “It is very similar, but the fear is much less when you get inside the car. The belts are tight and you are surrounded by the protection bars. On a motorcycle, however, the adrenaline release is greater.”
#46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3: Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, Augusto Farfus
Photo by: Paolo Belletti
AS: Is it possible to get excited inside a car after having raced in MotoGP?
VR: “Yes, I always wanted to race a car because all my life I was a great enthusiast. It gives me great satisfaction to drive a race car. Besides, the ones I drive are competitive, they go very fast. I would say that the sensations it gives me…
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