“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
“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.” YearsStillsReasonEnjoyRaceProveTrackRacingBikeProve Myself 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
“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
“Motivation is the key. More than training, more than experience or age, motivation counts. You have to ask yourself: 'Why am I racing?' I race because I like it, because I'm really enjoying it. I like to set up my bike and ride it on track. After 20 years in the GPs I'm still highly motivated. Everything else is a consequence.” YearsStillsAgeMotivationAsksEnjoyRaceKeysTrainingConsequenceTrackMotivatedRacingBikeGps 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
“How do Ferrari know what I'm doing next year when I don't know what I'm doing next week?” KnowsYearsNextWeekNext YearNext WeekFerrari Author:Valentino Rossi
“We have the 2004 M1 here for reference, which is useful. It worked well here last year; we won the race and always did fast lap times so it will be interesting to compare it to the new bike and it will help us to understand which parts have improved.” YearsWellsHelpingLastsInterestingRaceCompareLast YearBikeLap Author:Valentino Rossi
“To win the Championship in the first year will be hard. We need time to become competitive and win races.” NeedsYearsFirstsHardWinningSportsRaceChampionshipTime Of Need Author: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.” YearsFirstsPassionThreeFatherFourLuckyFour YearsBike Author:Valentino Rossi
