Valentino Rossi plays down Mugello 'Home Grand Prix' hopes

7time MotoGP World Champion and 7 time winner in Mugello in MotoGP Valentino Rossi had played down his chances for a victory in the upcoming Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. The ´Doctor´ Rossi has come to Yamaha from a difficult 2years in Ducati but still finds it difficult to keep in pace with the Hondas and his own team mate Lorenzo.

Rossi´s much expected return to competitiveness on the Yamaha was evident only in the first round in Qatar grabbing second behind team mate Lorenzo after storming ride from seventh but the other 3 rounds didnt go very well for the 7 time champion. Rossi couldnt match the pace of the Hondas of Pedrosa and Marquez or the Yamaha of team mate Lorenzo while also being outpaced by satellite Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow on 2012 bike in the last race. 

Rossi finds it really difficult to get into top shape to challenge for the victories after a two tough season in a bad patch, further the superior pace of Honda in the last 3 races has worried the Yamaha team event as the current champion Lorenzo finished a miserable 7th in the last round in LeMans which used to be favorite track for the M1.

It is expected that an enormous number of Rossi supporters will come to Mugello to see their legendary hero back in action in a competitive bike but sadly Rossi has hinted that a podium place will be the maximum to hope for.

The rider won in the Mugello circuit a record 7times straigh from 2002–2008 and finished 3rd in the rain in 2009. Mugellos also the place where he crashed heavily breaking his leg in 2010 from which. Its also noted that Rossi crashed in the last race while in fourth and managed to finish a disappointing 12th. 

Valentino Rossi said “I am very happy that we go to Mugello. I love this track and I´m really happy to go back there with Yamaha. This is a track that I really like and a good result is important.

Unfortunately we are still not fast enough so we need to improve, especially in dry conditions. We must work hard and improve the bike. The Mugello race will be difficult, but we will try to do everything to get the best result.

A podium would be really nice. I believe that there will be many people at Mugello so I´m happy and the heat in Mugello is always good!”

Rossi feels his Yamaha has to be setup right for his riding style to challenge for the victories. The task Rossi has is to equal the pace of his team mate Lorenzo and then challenge the superfast Hondas in the hands of strong Pedrosa and the super rookie Marquez.

Will Rossi spring up to action or is the decline of the legend has already scripted? We have to wait and watch!