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The turning point for Valentino came when he opened the window to his room this morning: “I saw the sun and I felt happier.” The favourable weather transformed him and allowed him to complete a comeback that took him from 15th place to 2nd place on a special day. “Today five years have passed since Sic left us: this podium is for him and his family. I think it is a good way to remember him” was his dedication to his friend.
You have made many comebacks in your career. Where does this one rank in your personal standings?
“It is difficult to say. When you win it is always better. I remember many: on the Sachsenring in 2006, at Assen in 2007, or when I won after starting 11th at Donington.”
Did you expect this one?
“This morning the good weather and the warmup gave me motivation and tranquillity. I had a good pace and I felt good on the bike. In fact, I did not make any changes to the bike before the race. I started with the setup from the tests and I was able to go fast in the right places. I had everything under control.”
Did you start with your sights set on the podium?
“I knew that I could do it, like I knew that the hardest ones to beat would be Marquez and Crutchlow. In the first laps I stayed focused, trying to do everything step by step.”
It did not seem that way from the number of passes…
“I really had fun. I want to watch myself on TV. I was coming from the crash in Japan and on Friday they took away my times and I was last. Then yesterday was the most negative day of the season. It was important to do a good race and the result today was exactly what the doctor ordered.”
Did you think about the win?
“When I saw Marquez on the ground, yes. I was behind Crutchlow and in warmup I was faster than he was. I expected him to be fast here. He finished on the podium with the Ducati as well, but today I must give him my compliments: he was very fast.”
If you had started farther forward, would the result have been different?
“When I arrived behind Cal he was not that far away, but I was unable to catch him. Even if I had started from the second row, I would not have beaten him today.”
Why not?
“In this second half of the season it has happened to me often: I struggle in the final part of the race. I was in difficulty with the rear. It happened here as it did at Misano, Aragón and Silverstone. Even today, if I had not been good in the first laps, Viñales would have been able to catch me. It is something to work on for the new bike.”
Is that the only weak point?
“No, the engine also needs to be improved for speed in the straights. I am not worried. I have a lot of faith in Yamaha”.
Yesterday not everything worked to perfection even in qualifying…
“The difficult conditions are my limit, the team’s and the bike’s.”
Does Viñales worry you as a teammate?
“I did not discover how fast and talented he is just today. I am accustomed to Lorenzo who is fast in any conditions; he is one of the best. I hope that Maverick will be a bit less (he laughs).”
