Aragon MotoGP: Rossi hails 'positive' podium return

Valentino Rossi was back on the MotoGP rostrum at Aragon following a 'positive' result on the Factory Yamaha M1.

Italian hero Rossi was promoted to third place after Dani Pedrosa crashed out of the race on the sixth lap and gained the upper hand in a thrilling three-way battle for third with Alvaro Bautista, Stefan Bradl and Cal Crutchlow to secure the final podium spot.

Bautista pushed Rossi hardest on the Gresini Honda, swapping places with the nine-time world champion until Rossi broke away when a pass on Bautista by Bradl allowed him to open a few tenths of a second.

Afterwards, Rossi - who qualified in fourth place - said he felt he made the wrong tyre choice, choosing the harder front when Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo had selected the soft option.

“Third position is positive, to be on the podium is good. I expected to go a little bit faster after the practice this morning where I was very strong,” he said.

“I decided for the hard front tyre whilst Marc and Jorge went for the soft and I think it was a better choice for this afternoon as I was a little bit slower. In the end the third position is very positive.”

Rossi has consolidated fourth place in the championship on 185 points, 29 clear of Britain's Cal Crutchlow ahead of the final four rounds.

66 comment(s) on this Story

Post your comments on this Story

Return Home | Printer Friendly | Email To Friend