Valentino Rossi has blamed his performance in the Italian GP on the injuries he suffered a week ago in a motocross incident.
The Italian injured himself during training using a motocross bike. He spent time in hospital, before being declared fit for this weekend’s race.
Qualifying in second, Rossi made a good start and led the opening laps. However, he was unable to keep up this pace and dropped back to fourth. This is where he finished, missing out on the podium.
Valentino admitted he was going to find this weekend difficult, and it was frustrating not to be able to challenge the riders ahead.
“I knew that todays race would be more difficult than usual for me. While on the bike I rode well and I didn’t have pain, but I was struggling a bit and I knew that 23 laps would be long and hard. I tried my best, I did a perfect start and I led the race for some laps, but I couldn’t really ride the way I would have liked to.
At the end, I tried to stay close to the riders in front, but I did not have the power to attack Danilo. I would have liked a lot to be on the podium today, but there was nothing I could do.”
However, the Italian is not disappointed with the result, especially considering the condition he was in. He is still in with a shout of the championship and returns to Catalunya next week, one of his favourite circuits.
“It’s a bit disappointing that I’m not on the podium at Mugello, but seeing where I was a few days ago, and the big hit I took, it has been a positive weekend all in all. Being here and riding in front of so many fans was a gift. Now we have just a few days before Catalunya, another important race, so I will try to recover and be in perfect shape in Barcelona.”
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