---
title: "Rossi’s 350th GP ends with podium delight"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/04/10/rossis-350th-gp-ends-podium-delight/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-04-10T11:29:12Z"
modified: "2017-04-10T11:31:35Z"
---

# Rossi’s 350th GP ends with podium delight

Valentino Rossi ended his milestone 350th grand prix appearance on the second step of the podium, after the Yamaha rider got the upper hand on LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow in a race-long duel.

The Italian came into Sunday once again with fairly bleak prospects, as his issues with the front-end of his YZR-M1 reappeared in the dry on Friday and persisted during the wet qualifying on Saturday.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/04/666614682.jpg)

A positive warm-up session saw Rossi find something with the set-up of his bike which gave him more confidence to push in the 25-lap race. Starting from seventh, the Yamaha rider had carved his way through to fourth by the end of the first lap.

When Honda’s Marc Marquez crashed out, Rossi was promoted to third, and finally broke Crutchlow’s resolve with seven laps to go to eventually cross the line 2.9s adrift of team-mate Maverick Vinales.

“My mechanic, Brent, said to me on the grid: ‘Its the 350th, try to make it a good race,’” Rossi said.

“I’m happy because I was competitive today from the first lap. I felt better physically and I trained hard, so I felt good on the bike and I could push throughout the whole race.

“This weekend I was always struggling in the braking, but we improve the balance on Sunday and today in braking I was very strong, especially after the back straight.

“I feel that my concentration is good and also the battle with Cal was good, because I was able to beat him. Unfortunately, Maverick was a bit faster, but this result is really important for me and the whole team – a Yamaha one-two is great!”

Rossi admits that it would have been unlikely he would have been able to chase down Vinales had he overtaken Crutchlow earlier, and he also confesses that he needs to improve his performance in practice to allow him to be even stronger in the race.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/04/666615032.jpg)

However, he is nonetheless satisfied to head to the next round in Texas second in the standings, 14 points off the championship lead on 36.

“I don’t think the result would have been different had I passed Cal earlier in the race. Looking at the lap times, Maverick was a bit stronger and that’s just the way it is today.

“We took some important points for the championship and I also felt really good with the bike today.

“For me, I suffer because when I struggle in the practice the situation is not under control. This is the way and all the riders are now able to push from the beginning and are able to be strong and make great lap times.

“In the race I was able to improve but we (must) try to work to be stronger in the practice.”