For those of you who missed Valentino Rossi streaming live webcast on Dainese.
com yesterday afternoon (like myself), here’s part one of the video where Valentino answered a selection of fans’ questions that came from over 75 countries.
Since Rossi answers all the questions in Italian, we’ve translated his answers:When will you return and give us the same emotions that you used to with your fantastic passing moves and your drifts:Soon I hope.
This year was difficult and we didn’t have fun.
I hope to be competitive in MotoGP.
Next year we have a lot of things to try and verify on the new Ducati.
Our objective is to be competitive straight off and see during the season what we can do.
Asked what which actor he would have liked to be and in which film:Dan Akroyd in Blues Brothers next to Belushi, it’s my favourite film.
Asked about Ezpeleta’s decision to put CRTs on the grid:It’s a difficult period for motorsports in general due to world economy, we’d like to race with the MotoGP bike as they are now, with super technology and super performance, but the problem is there is less money around to buy them, so it’s not a choice, we’re kind of obliged, because if we want more bikes on the grid and give a good show we are going to have to ride bikes that are a little less performing, but cost less and maybe more fun to watch, because maybe there’ll be more battles.
Let’s hope for the best for MotoGP and we can see some good races.
”His favourite song:I don’t know, there are a lot of them, but I’d say Solo Noi by Vasco [it was played at Simoncelli’s funeral]If he’s afraid of dying:Yes, I’d say yes.
A little, like everyone is.
Naturally for us riders who do something risky, we’re more scared.
How does he train in winter time:During winter I continue to train, I never stop, I continue the same routine as during the season, only a little less now because we’re on ‘holidays’ till January.
I go to the gym, lift weights, I run, I use motocross bikes, enduro bikes, some drifting at the Cava, we’re building a track near Tavullia where we do some flat track, we use go-karts, play soccer with my friends, snow board.
Let’s say that it’s a fun type of preparation.
About the innovations in motorcycle safety gear:I’ve been with AGV and Dainese all my racing career, since 1995 and every year we try to do a good job and better the protection, the leathers.
There has been a big step forward and the latest idea is the air bag, which Dainese has been studying for over ten years and from 2009 we’ve been using it on track and starting this year you guys will have it.
There will be jackets.
We’ve seen that when we crash on track they work very well.
It took a long time, but we’ve gotten there.
In this case MotoGP has helped street going motorcyclists.
The future, when you’re 40I still have eight years before reaching 40, there’s still time.
I’d like to continue to ride a motorcycle or race a car.
I see myself still wearing leathers riding or driving.
Have you ever reached your limit or gone past it:Yes.
A lot of times of done races at the limit, which went well.
Other times I crashed.
You have to be careful and reach the limit but not go over it.
Your dream:Win the 10th World title