Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128376
Believe it or not, Valentino Rossi has never been to California. But he will. On July 10, Rossi will compete in the United States Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway laguna Seca in Monterey, California, in what will be the first U.S. GP in 10 years. laguna Seca held a teleconference call with Rossi recently and we participated. Here are some of the multi-time World Champion's comments. cn: Have you begun to familiarize yourself with the track layout at laguna yet by playing a PlayStatlon game or anything like that? valentinorossl: Yes, yes, I know Laguna only from Tv. But now I make playing with the PlayStation and more or less I know the layout, but [I've) never been in Laguna before. cn: From watching videos of laguna Seca, do you feel that the race will be difficult? Do you think the track will be difficult to learn or won't It be a problem? vaJentinorossl: Yes, I think the track is difficult because it goes up and down a lot, and I think it is quite technical and has some very difficult points - the first left after the straight and the Corkscrew. For sure, in MotoGp, it [the Corkscrew) will be interesting. There is a change of direction, then it is very much downhill, so it is very technical and difficult. I hope they make all the works in laguna for improve the safety because in the past that was not very safe. But anyway, they make all the more changes for the Grand Prix. cn: What do you think of coming to California for the race? vaJentinorossi: I'm very happy to come to California. I have been in the U.S. five or six years ago, but only for one week. I expect to love coming to California because it's for sure a very good place. And lots of people say the fans of MotoGP become more and more in the last year in the U.S. because they have a lot of American riders and our sport become always more bigger. 50 I expect a lot of fans for the race, and I am very happy to come in California for the sun, the beautiful girls, and I think it is a good place. cn: You say you are very EXcited about racing In America. Are you more excited about coming to America than going to race In the other new races in China and Turkey? valentinorossi: I have never been in China and Turkey - I don't know. Arryway, we go in a lot of different place - the importance is the track safety. That it is good - and the weather is good, for sure. But anyway, I think it is more exciting to come to the U.S. because Laguna is also in a very good place. Speaking with Colin [Edwards), he say it's very good place to be. 50 China and Turkey is new for everybody, so we are waiting before we say something. cn: How much of a disadvantage will It be to have no previous racing experience at laguna Seca, and how much will you rely on your teammate Colin Edwards for advice on how to approach the track? valentinorossi: For sure I never been to Laguna, so it is a little bit of disadvantage because some other riders have already seen the track. But it is a new track, and I think we will be able to make some practice on Thursday [though Rossi doesn't know it, there is no practice scheduled for Thursday). Yes, a new track is always more difficult to set the bike, but we will see. About Colin... Colin is always very fast at Laguna and has the extra motivation for his home Grand Prix. So we will work to fight together to arrive in front. Paul Carruthers Steve Rapp: Another New Deal Jordan Motorsports. We caught up with him in a California Speedway teleconference call to discusss his thoughts on that facility as well has his new program. cn: Are you looking forward to racing at California Speedway, In your own backyard? Californian Steve Rapp has never managed to find himself out of a decent ride. From his earlier days as a Yoshimura Suzuki racer and Vance & Hines Ducati in the Superbike class to his recent stint with Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki last season, Rapp has always managed to sell himself into good programs with the promise of great potential. For 2005 Rapp finds himself with another new albeit very high-profile - privateer team: steverapp: Well, it is still kind of a new venue for us. What have we been going there, three or four years now? I actually kind of considered Willow Springs, when we used to race there, as my home track. But now that we're not racing there, California Speedway is my home race. In a way it does feel like my home track, but we really don't ride there that much other than just racing, but it is a nice place to go to. cn: What Is your take on the California Speedway track itself? Are you a fan or not and why? steverapp: It's not my favorite track, I can say. Idon't mind riding there, but I think as a racer you like variety, uphills, downhills, offcambers... and when you go to California Speedway, it's flat. I wouldn't rate it as my favorite, but it's not the worst either, because it is such a nice facility and it is in a good location as far as Southern California goes. It has its pluses and its minuses, too. cn: Do you appreciate what Michael Jordan brings to your sport as a team owner? steverapp: Yeah. It's amazing. Every time we walk out of the pits when Michael Jordan is in the area, there are so many people around. I don't know if it brings more people to the track, but it gains other people's attention who might not know what motorcycle road racing is about, so I think it helps in that aspect. That name brings their attention over there. And with him and his backing, we don't have to worry about financial stuff as much as some other teams might have to. He has a nice team. It's very professional, and I think that it shows. cn: How would you rate the progress of the Jordan Motorsports team thus far? steverapp: It's one of those things where it's a new team in a sense, but it is mostly the same crew that ran the Harley- Davidson VR I000 program for a number of years. It's not quite as new as most people would think from the outside looking in. It's a really experienced crew, and then we have a Amarr Bazzaz helping us, who it's just so important to have somebody like that who you can bounce things off of and have his kind of knowledge. He worked with Mat Mladin for a number of years during Mat's championship years. 50, it's very helpful to have him around also. cn: Going into the year, you were maybe going to do all of the Superblke-class events, Has that decision been finalized? steverapp: It's still on a race-to-race basis. It [Superbike) is not my main class. Superstock is my main class, and I think it's where we have the best chance of winning and running up front. Seeing as how the Suzuki is such a great bike, I think our chances of running up in the pack in Superbike are better than I expected. At the Barber test, I was fifth fastest in the Superbike class. We'll just base our races on how the Superstock championship shapes up. Scott Rousseau