Valentino Rossi was bitterly disappointed to have failed to finish his
home Grand Prix, crashing with Alvaro Bautista on the opening lap at
Mugello on Sunday.
The nine-time world champion had started seventh on the grid, two positions in front of Bautista, but both riders found themselves in the protective barriers only three corners into the race.
“Unfortunately, at the start I had a problem with the clutch spinning and I lost two or three positions,” Rossi recalls. “Then I was attacking because we had a good pace and I was fast.
“On the second corner I was on the outside, already in front of Bautista. For me, from the inside he opened the throttle to close the line so he didn’t lose another position, but I was already in front so he came to me and touched my boot. I was lucky because it was a bad crash and I hit the wall, but I’m okay.
“We will try next time in Barcelona, but it is a pity because firstly it is Mugello and secondly I think we could have done a good race and maybe been on the podium.”
Rossi won seven consecutive races at home in Italy between 2002 and 2008. After today’s non-finish, he finds himself sixth in the championship and 56 points off the lead.
“Unfortunately, at the start I had a problem with the clutch spinning and I lost two or three positions,” Rossi recalls. “Then I was attacking because we had a good pace and I was fast.
“On the second corner I was on the outside, already in front of Bautista. For me, from the inside he opened the throttle to close the line so he didn’t lose another position, but I was already in front so he came to me and touched my boot. I was lucky because it was a bad crash and I hit the wall, but I’m okay.
“We will try next time in Barcelona, but it is a pity because firstly it is Mugello and secondly I think we could have done a good race and maybe been on the podium.”
Rossi won seven consecutive races at home in Italy between 2002 and 2008. After today’s non-finish, he finds himself sixth in the championship and 56 points off the lead.
