To win the Championship in the first year will be hard. We need time to become competitive and win races. — Valentino Rossi

Once the races begin it’s more difficult and there is never that much time for testing. — Valentino Rossi

The work that we do during the winter is very important; we have a new bike and it’s important to develop it during this time, and we start with this test. — Valentino Rossi

It’s a big, big advantage because understanding what changes we might make takes time and it takes time to work out settings and to understand everything about the new machine. — Valentino Rossi

My normal life is like being on holiday. — Valentino Rossi

To be a great motorbike racer, the most important thing is passion for the bike. — Valentino Rossi

Maybe the bike is more dangerous, but the passion for the car for me is second to the bike. — Valentino Rossi

The tragic incident of Luis Salom reminds us that our sport, our passion, is dangerous. We know it but, in a way, we don’t think about it. — Valentino Rossi

My father raced bikes. He gave me the passion very early. I had my first bike when I was three or four years old. — Valentino Rossi

I was lucky. My father raced bikes. He gave me the passion very early. I had my first bike when I was three or four years old. — Valentino Rossi

Maybe if Graziano make another work or another sport I wouldn’t have had this passion to be a rider. — Valentino Rossi

But I could also start F1 or rallying. I love rallying much more. — Valentino Rossi

You look at Moto3, the races are very exciting. Moto2 is fantastic, and then MotoGP is boring. — Valentino Rossi

I race to win. If I am on the bike or in a car it will always be the same. — Valentino Rossi

I’m lucky because I don’t feel too much pressure–it’s only in the last hour before the race, and even then it’s good, positive pressure. — Valentino Rossi

In my opinion we are at the limit now, and 17 races is really too much. With all the testing that we do now, it means we’re always on the bike and it’s quite difficult. — Valentino Rossi

I have so much respect for my opponents; many of them watched the races as little children and were supporting me! — Valentino Rossi

As for the level of spectacle of the two disciplines, I leave it to the people who watch the races to comment. — Valentino Rossi

Riding a race bike is an art–a thing that you do because you feel something inside. — Valentino Rossi

However I am looking forward to the two new Grands Prixs both Shanghai and Laguna Seca are fantastic tracks and it will be good to race at them. — Valentino Rossi

I am still here because I like to prove myself. I still like to ride the bike on track and enjoy the races. I still have good reasons to be in racing after so many years. — Valentino Rossi

I never race for records. The motivation to try to beat the record is not enough to continue. You have to enjoy it. — Valentino Rossi

I’m very happy because I won a lot. I’ve won races and lived in a world that just gave me joy, so I remember it very positively. — Valentino Rossi

I am sorry about thIs, he touched me on the corner and I hope he Is okay. It was a great race, the bIke was great and now two vIctorIes already. I thInk we wIll be able to fIght to the end. — Valentino Rossi

My approach to the races hasn’t changed in my 20–year career. If I have the chance to attack and to pass, I do it, trying to get the best possible result. — Valentino Rossi