Valentino Rossi returns to Silverstone first time since his 2010 injury – MotoGP news
Ducati Team rider Valentino Rossi will arrive at the Silverstone circuit for the AirAsia British Grand Prix scheduled for June 12, 2011.
Rossi missed the 2010 British GP due to a leg injury he suffered at the Mugello event.
The Italian veteran will be the only rider to have no experience on the latest layout of the Silverstone track. The track was revised in 2010 to host the first MotoGP race after a gap of 25 years.
Ducati Team rider, Valentino Rossi commented about the circuit as he said, “Silverstone is a great track that's difficult and quite fast. I'll start on Friday with a small handicap because unfortunately, I didn't get to race there last year. I haven't ridden
a MotoGP bike there, although I did about twenty laps on an 1198 street bike.”
The only track experience he has collected is a few laps run on a Ducati 1198 which is a street bike. He availed this opportunity during the inauguration of the new wing at the Silverstone circuit in May 2011.
The Italian rider also said, “I'll have to learn the track as quickly and as well as possible, as it's very technical, with several blind spots where taking the right line is very important. Of course we'll also have to work on adjusting the bike.”
Rossi’s team is working hard to manage a compatible setup of the Ducati GP11 for Silverstone. The development is in process and there are many other areas which need to be focused upon for further improvement.
Given the circumstances, it is expected that Rossi will be slower than other riders who have already raced at the new version of the track. Even Cal Crutchlow and Karel Abraham have raced on the new layout. British Crutchlow gained a double victory in the
2010 World Superbike Championship at the venue while Abraham has raced at the circuit in Moto2 class.
Valentino Rossi is aiming to score the fourth place in the championship after putting up a good show at the British Grand Prix this weekend. Injured Dani Pedrosa will miss the event and is likely to fall further below in the championship.
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