Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) is only the second rider in the field to have raced at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg before, although the 125 race in which the Italian participated – in 1996 – was on a different track layout to the new one seen today. The legendary Italian made good progress on the new layout during testing at the venue - after a more difficult start - and is aiming to further refine the YZF-M1 and get on the podium as the second half of the season kicks into gear. The training of the summer break is over, with the lights soon going out in Austria for the first time in 19 years.
Valentino Rossi: “It was a long break. I certainly rested a lot! I went on holiday but I continued to train. Now, however, I really want to get back on the track and do my best in this second half of the season. We have done good races up to this point. Some of them could have been better but we have proven that we‘re fast. The Austrian circuit is very nice and the tests went pretty well. The two long straights don‘t help us much, but during the race weekend we still have time to improve. We will do our best to get onto the podium.”