AFP/Silverstone
Italy’s Valentino Rossi and his Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo will renew rivalry in their enthralling duel for the MotoGP world title at Silverstone this weekend with the legendary Italian hoping to record his first victory on the track.
Both are locked on 211 points—52 ahead of last year’s champion Marc Marquez—with Lorenzo having the edge as he has five wins to ‘The Doctor’s’ three.
However, Rossi—who has been in inspirational form on the track this year as he seeks a 10th world title in all categories—comes to the race in sparky form and vowing to make it a memorable weekend for him personally on two notes.
On the sidelines of the race itself he is to become the first motorcyclist to be made an honorary member of the British Racing Driver’s Club (BRDC), something which means a lot to the exuberant 36-year-old Italian but obviously pales into insignificance as he focuses on filling in one of the rare blanks in his CV by winning at Silverstone.
Rossi, who has a best finish at Silverstone of third last year since the race was switched from Donington Park in 2010, acknowledges that this race could be the crucial point of the season and he needs his team of mechanics to be at their best in their handling of the bike this weekend.
“We are at a very important point of the season and I hope I can have a good race!” he told his team’s website.
“We have to improve the set-up of the bike and get ready for the race on Sunday. Now that Jorge and I are level on points it will be very important to consistently be fast,” added Rossi, who has been nothing if not consistent having posted 15 podium finishes in his last 15 races although his last win dates back to the Dutch MotoGP three races ago.
Lorenzo, a two-time world champion in the category after two championship victories in the 250cc class, rattled off four successive wins earlier in the season and heads into Silverstone on the back of winning the Czech leg last time out—Rossi finishing third.
In contrast to the Italian the change of venue to Silverstone has proved a happy hunting ground for the 28-year-old, as he has won three times in five visits there. He is licking his lips at the prospect of recording another victory there.
“Now it’s time to go to England and I love that place,” said Lorenzo. “Especially the track is a great opportunity for us; it has a nice layout where our bike always behaves in a perfect way.
“It’s a very enjoyable track but also very demanding because it’s long and has plenty of high speed corners and change of directions, so you need to be in a perfect shape to be able to fight for the podium.
“I won several races at Silverstone in the past and I feel good there so hopefully this season we can achieve another great result on British soil.”
