His 18th season is meant to be his “rebirth”, as he lines up one again with his beloved Yamaha M1 after a challenging time with the Ducati Desmosedici. 2013 has already awoken some emotions in fans, as Rossi showed that he was quick from the off in the first test in Sepang.
In an exclusive interview with Motosprint, the Italian talked in-depth about his frustration these last two years, the joys of returning to a team to “have fun”, friends, enemies, certainties and hopes. Speaking on leaving the Italian outfit he said: “My past speaks for me, as with the Aprilia, Honda and Yamaha I have always been lucky enough to be on the right bike. I know how to win, but maybe in Ducati it was only me who knew how to.”
Now it's time to go big - not to prove it to just anyone - but to himself. "I'm riding for fun, like I’ve always done, but it is obvious that I’m back at Yamaha with the idea of beating the Hondas as I did years ago. I found the bike much easier to ride than in 2009, the grip and electronics are incredible: the M1 is definitely a bike to put at full lean!"
His return to the Iwata factory implies a challenge to the current MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, however, for him Rossi has only good words: "Lorenzo, through those tough years has been very polite with me. He, like Pedrosa, has shown me respect, not raging about me. Something that Stoner, and in part Dovizioso, didn’t do. With me, Lorenzo has always been very fair."
Rossi then moves on to discuss the opposition: "Last year Pedrosa had an incredible second half of the season and maybe this could be his year. He's ready. On the other hand, he has a strange destiny, because every time he is on the verge of winning the title, something always happens (see Misano 2012). Talking of Dani, I must admit that Márquez is the only rider in which I see really see myself, and that's why even if he is my opponent, I see a lot of me in him."
His minimum target is to win a race, but one knows Rossi won’t be satisfied: "The fire inside was never out. Now I feel competitive, but to beat Lorenzo and Pedrosa there is still much to do, especially on race-pace. Many think I should stop, but I know the truth!"
Source: http://www.motogp.com