MotoGP: Valentino Rossi crashes out of two races in a row: “It takes me out of the championship”

Valentino Rossi has called it quits to a 2020 title campaign following two DNF’s in a row.

Valentino Rossi was looking to mount a title charge this season given how open the title is, however, he has confirmed that his title charge is ‘over’ following a crash in the second race at Misano and now a crash in the race after at Catalunya.

The crashes have meant that Rossi sits in 11th place in the standings with a huge 50 point deficit to title leader Fabio Quartararo. Rossi has also been trying to get his 200th podium in the class since Andalucia, however, every time he is close, he loses this by either crashing or being overtaken.

On Saturday it was announced that Rossi would move to the Petronas SRT team for 2021, therefore a podium would have been a fantastic way to celebrate this, “It is a great shame, two mistakes in a row takes me out of the championship. 

In Misano, we did something different on the bike and technically, it was not very strong I did not feel very good also on Saturday and Sunday, I did not feel very well.”

“This weekend it is very different as I was always competitive – I was good on the bike I arrived well, I improved practice by practice, but today I was at the limit, I was behind Fabio [Quartararo] and I didn’t want to lose much [time], I wanted to stay with him. I arrive at turn 2 and on the left is always dangerous and I lost the front.

It is a shame as I could have fought for the victory and for sure the podium which was our target.”

From what Rossi has said, he crashed whilst being pushed by Quartararo to maintain second place, showing the clear speed of the young Frenchman on the Yamaha.

Featured image – www.motogp.com