Rossi Takes Top-Ten Finish at Home GP

30-05-2021

Rossi Takes Top-Ten Finish at Home GP

Valentino Rossi tenth at Mugello after a good comeback, Franco Morbidelli 16th in a difficult race for the whole paddock.

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team would like to send their sincere condolences to Jason Dupasquier's team, family and friends. The young Moto3 rider will be sorely missed in the paddock.

After steadily making his way up the order, from 19th on the grid, throughout the 23-lap race, and a battle for position in the final laps, Valentino Rossi took his first top-ten finish of the season at his home GP. Team-mate Franco Morbidelli, who was forced to run wide to avoid another rider’s incident on the second lap, ended the ItalianGP 16th.

In the MotoGP World Championship standings Franco is currently ninth - 33 points, with Valentino 19th - 15 points.

Next weekend will see Morbidelli and Rossi in action at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya (4-6 June).

Valentino Rossi

"My condolences go to the family of Jason Dupasquier, his team and also his friends. When these things happen it is difficult to find the will to race, because you question what is the point of racing? But unfortunately you also ask what is the sense in not racing? You cannot change what happened. It was very difficult to put the helmet on and concentrate on the race today.

"I lost a bit of time in the first corner because of contact, but after that my pace was decent. I was able to recover, do some overtakes and I could stay inside the top-ten. It is not fantastic, but we have taken some points today."

Franco Morbidelli

"Today was very difficult to concentrate and be focused for the race because of the very sad news that we received before the race. Our sport can be like this sometimes; unfortunately it is a dangerous sport and things like this can happen. I’m really sorry for what happened, but it’s important to absorb this hard hit and go forward with the same energy as always. My condolences go to all of Jason Dupasquier’s loved ones.

"Regarding the race, another rider crashed in front of me on the second lap and I had to avoid both him and his bike. I had to try not to crash myself as well, which I managed, but it cost me a lot of time and I was unable to stay with the pack. Anyway, I didn’t have the speed that I would have wanted today and overall it just wasn’t the best of days, for many reasons. I’m now looking forward to forgetting this weekend and to face another race in Barcelona next week."

Razlan Razali

Team Principal

"It has been a difficult weekend for the whole of the MotoGP fraternity, with the loss of young rider Jason Dupasquier. It’s hard for all of us to have this loss in the paddock, but this is our sport and it’s dangerous. Everyone is grieving with this loss.

"It was a very good top-ten for Valentino in today’s MotoGP race, however it is a shame that Franco’s GP unfolded the way it did."