I never give up, and this is the most important thing in MotoGP™. I’m a fighter and in my career I’ve always been a fighter. When you feel confident on the bike, and when you trust the bike, those are the days when you can fight and push to the limit. Those are the days when everyone is a rival and has a target on their back until you’re in front of them, or fighting them.
I have had many rivals in my career and some amazing battles. Some riders, like Marquez, I’ve raced for a long time and we’ve fought in 125s, Moto2™ and MotoGP™. Others you arrive in the premier class, you face them for the first time and you have to learn about them – and learn from them. They always say your teammate is your first rival and that is true because you have the same bike, but you can’t just focus on one person: everyone on the grid is trying to beat you.
I have learned a lot in MotoGP™, from each team I’ve raced with and each teammate I’ve faced. I’ve learned a lot in races like the battle we had at Phillip Island, where the rivals you’re fighting on track force you to be the best you have ever been. I’ve learned what my rivals have taken from watching me, and what I’m still left to learn
This season I have a new teammate, a new big rival, and a new challenge…after a difficult start. But I’ll never give up, because that’s the most important thing.