“I think the secret is to understand that you still want to be part of the game. To do so, you have to forget all the victories you've managed to get in the previous years and have a great humility. You also need to realise that, if you want to go on, you have to work hard. If you dwell too much on your past successes and say "well, I have won nine world titles and more than 100 races", you'd rather stay home.” IfsThinkingWorldWantNeedsYearsWellsStillsHardHomePastGamesForgetSecretRaceToo MuchHumilityHard WorkGoes OnVictoryNineTitlesRealisingOur PastYour PastPast SuccessPrevious Years Author:Valentino Rossi
“You need to realise that, if you want to go on, you have to work hard. If you dwell too much on your past successes and say "well, I have won nine world titles and more than 100 races", you'd rather stay home. The sport, your rivals, the tyres, your motorcycle, everything changes so instead you need to work more to be stronger. If you don't, you're finished.” IfsWorldWantNeedsWellsHardHomePastSportsRaceToo MuchHard WorkGoes OnStrongerFinishedNineTitlesRealisingOur PastThings ChangeRivalsYour PastMotorcyclePast SuccessTyres Author: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.” IfsTryingYearsChanceResultsRaceCareersChangedApproach Author:Valentino Rossi
“Nowadays, we have to deal with so many more factors that weren't there in the past. It's not enough to be a good rider, if you want to finish at the front. The riders have become incredible athletes. In the past, you could manage the race and fight only on the last laps. Now you need to train hard. You cannot allow yourself to go on track without being at 100 percent.” IfsWantNeedsHardEnoughLastsPastFightingDealsRaceFrontsGoes OnPercentTrainIncrediblesAthleteTrackFactorsManageLapRidersTrain Hard Author:Valentino Rossi
“You need a combination of many things to get good results. Experience is one of these, and it can be very useful at the right moment. I don't know if it helps to go faster, but for sure it's an important element that has helped me a lot. Being experienced helps you to make fewer mistakes when you are on track. This is the positive side for being around for so many years!” IfsKnowsNeedsYearsImportantMomentsHelpingSidesResultsMistakeElementsTrackFasterCombinationFewerRight Moment Author:Valentino Rossi
“I race to win. If I am on the bike or in a car it will always be the same.” IfsMotivationalWinningSportsRaceCarBikeCar RacingAuto Racing Author:Valentino Rossi
“In 2002 the Yamaha was at more or less the same level as the Honda, better in some ways, worse in others. But in the winter of last year between 2002 and 2003, Honda made a big step forward and it seemed as if Yamaha couldn't quite match that improvement.” IfsWayYearsMadeBigsLastsSportsLevelsStepsWinterImprovementLast YearSteps ForwardHondaYamaha Author:Valentino Rossi
“If I test the car for a year I can be quite competitive the next season.” IfsYearsI CanNextCarTestsSeasons Author:Valentino Rossi
“Maybe if Graziano make another work or another sport I wouldn't have had this passion to be a rider.” IfsPassionSportsRidersSquash Author:Valentino Rossi
“I try to have a different relationship with the bike. I don't give it a name, but I always speak with it. I don't know if the other riders do the same. This is not only a piece of metal - there is a soul. The bike talks back too. But not with a voice, with the components” IfsKnowsGivingTryingDifferentSoulNamesSpeakVoicePiecesMetalsBikeComponentsRidersDifferent Relationships Author:Valentino Rossi
