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2006-09-10 Post race MotoGP interview - Sepang
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 Today's race at Sepang brought another great battle in front, this time between Rossi and Capirossi. As mutch as race was excitement to spectators, it seems that it left much more impression to riders involved in it: Rossi and Capirossi were both talking with lot of emotion about it. Read impressions of all riders from Sepang in post-race interview.
Valentino Rossi (1st; 43’07.829)
That was another legendary battle between myself and Loris – very hard but also very fair. At Brno he escaped but today I was able to hang on to him. When both our bikes are working well it is always spectacular because his performs better in some sections and mine in others so it makes for a beautiful fight. I enjoy racing with him so much because there is a lot of respect between us and a great trust – he is probably the hardest rival I have ever had but also one of my best friends in the paddock. At one point I thought I’d got away but then he appeared again and I knew it was going to be a battle to the end. He tried to break free but I stayed with him and I think we passed each other about ten times in the last few laps, it was amazing. I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everybody at Yamaha because they virtually cancelled their summer holidays to get this bike working at the maximum again and I was able to push at 100% today. I also need to say another big ‘thank you’ to Michelin, who have worked really hard to help us to get back to this level of competitiveness. For the two Honda riders to finish third and fourth is not ideal but all I can do is keep winning races so that is what I will try to do.
Loris Capirossi (2nd)
The whole weekend has been great for us. At the start I overtook a few guys, took the lead and tried to go away but realised I couldn't. When Valentino overtook me the first time, then Dani, it was because I'd opened the gas too early and lost some grip. But I wasn't worried because I knew my rhythm was good. The battle with Valentino was great, we overtook each other many times but always in a correct manner. It was easy to win or lose this race, no one could say who was going to win before the last corner, but I think a battle like this is so good for the sport. My problem wasn't the last corner, it was the one before where I had a bit too much spin on the exit. Now I am ready for the last four races, I know the bike and tyres are good and I know I am strong enough to fight with Valentino. But I'm not thinking about the championship, I will just do my best and then we will count the points. I am really looking forward to Phillip Island, though yesterday it was only eight degrees there...
Dani Pedrosa (3rd)
The result is very good. The big decision today was whether or not I would race, and until the last moment I was still in doubt about it. We chose to race and they gave me one injection to take away the pain. Although I felt the stitches pressing under my leathers, the pain on my knee was gone. In the race my left foot hurt, and so did my left knee but in the right knee I felt no pain. I got a good start but I was expecting the leaders to pull away and I also expected the lap times to be a little faster than they were. At the end I was very tired – my bike had just the basic set-up because I lost time in practice so I was riding on the limit in the race. In the end I got the result – that’s the important thing. Also I was lucky that the qualifying practice was cancelled – to start from fifth on the grid was really, really important for me today. I have to say thank you to all the guys in the Clinica Mobile because they worked very hard for me and made me believe I could race. They took so much care of me – it was a very special job. Also to my team because they encouraged me and helped me to race. Thank you to everybody and I will not forget this day.
Nicky Hayden (4th)
It was quite a frustrating day because we didn’t have enough speed today. We got a little bit behind on Friday and yesterday’s qualifying session was washed out which didn’t help, but the bottom line is the guys in front of me were faster today. I felt like I rode my hardest and for that I’m proud, but at this level sometimes that isn’t good enough. I’ve got no excuses – the bike, the set-up and the tyres were pretty good, but we couldn’t quite go at their speed. It didn’t feel great just being off the back that little bit. We’ll keep fighting though – there’s four races to go and some tracks I really like coming up. We’re definitely still in it, and we’ll keep working hard.
Sete Gibernau (5th)
That was a perfect return. Once again I'd like to thank everyone for an outstanding job, without them I could never have done what I did today. The team, the guys back home and Bridgestone gave me a great bike and great support, making my life as easy as it could be coming back from an injury. I wasn't as aggressive as I should've been during the first laps, just because I've been back home for two months, but I think we needed to do a race like this to come back. I'm very pleased because I regained a good feeling with the bike and I was up there with the guys who are fighting for the championship, that's what we needed. I was a bit worried about the injury, I was thinking ?oh man, what's going to happen?' but it reacted well. I think the bone is pretty good shape, so all credit to my physical trainer Dani Sune and to the doctors back home. The only thing I don't have right now is full strength. Now I'm looking forward to Phillip Island.
John Hopkins (6th)
I wasn’t feeling that great this morning – I think I’ve got a bit of a head cold that’s going around the team. By the time I got to the grid I felt great though, but I didn’t feel that way half-way round lap one! There was a lot of mess going on and a lot of bumping. Shinya hit Randy and they took each other out and I was lucky to miss them – but that saved a couple of passes! From there I had to save the tyre and do the best race I could. There wasn’t one lap where I wasn’t riding my butt off and riding to the maximum – some more than others. The new spec engine allows me to make passes and it makes my job easier. Coming into the last couple of laps I just pushed hard and I knew I could get past Stoner. Unfortunately I didn’t get past Kenny early enough as I think I could have got Sete as well. We have to take what we can get. I want that podium but it didn’t happen here. We’ve got a few races left and we’ll be going for it for sure.
Kenny Roberts (7th)
I got a bad start just didnt get off the line well, and that put me in a bad place for the entire race. I was overshooting a lot of these slow corners trying to be aggressive. It took me a while to smooth out and by the time I did, I was where I was at.
Casey Stoner (8th)
I think I had a chance at the podium, especially when I was right on Haydens butt early in the race. Then Nicky braked early into the final corner and I nearly hit him, he pulled a gap, and five laps later I was worn out. I was really struggling into the corners under braking, I had to use my upper body too much. The problem started when I jinked my back as the bike wobbled under the brakes, up until then I was gaining on the guys in front.
Marco Melandri (9th)
It was a very difficult weekend – we didn’t manage to solve the problems with the front end at all. I tried to give my best in the race, but I did not feel comfortable on the bike and so I did not risk too much and decided to just claim some points that could prove important in the championship. I am disappointed as I don’t like battling for ninth place, but I hope I will be able to do better in Australia.
Colin Edwards (10th)
We’ve had the same problems since Mugello – I don’t have enough rear grip and I can’t push the bike as hard as I need to. This weekend we turned it upside down but still couldn’t find that little bit of grip we need. We’ve been following Valentino a little with the setting and today I had virtually the same as him. I don’t know how he does it, but somehow he does and today I couldn’t. It’s always tough starting from so far down the grid and I tried to make up the ground but from mid-race I was basically riding on my own, trying to cut down the gap to Melandri but without much success. Luckily we have another race in seven days at a place I love so hopefully we can move onwards and upwards in Australia.
Chris Vermeulen (11th)
It was difficult weekend with the cancelled session and me not feeling 100% on Friday and Saturday. I was a bit better today but I tired towards the end of the race. The bike worked well as did the Bridgestone tyres. Full credit to my team, I didn’t do a lot of laps in practice or give them much information but they gave me a very competitive bike. It was difficult starting in 16th but we came through and finished 11th and I did my fastest ever lap here in the race. Hopefully in a week I should be a lot fitter for my home GP – I’m really looking forward to that!
Carlos Checa (12th)
I'm quite satisfied with the job I did today. I feel that we raced on the limit of what we have as the bike seemed a little down on power today but the tyre performance was quite constant so considering this I feel I did my best. We made no mistakes and we found some more good information for Dunlop to work with so working like this we have found something better for the remaining races
Randy de Puniet (13th)
My start was definitely an improvement over previous races, and I got a good run through the first turn to take tenth place. But then Shinya tried to go up the inside of me on the opening lap, and we collided as he picked the bike up to avoid the riders braking in front of him. I managed to ride through the gravel, but everyone had disappeared into the distance by the time I rejoined the race. From that point on there was little else I could do but put my head down and go for it. I am happy with my performance today, and I'm confident that, without the forced trip through the gravel on the opening lap, I was on for a top ten finish this afternoon. Yes, it's disappointing, but that's racing I guess.
Makoto Tamada (14th)
The tyre choice was not good and the front was finished after three laps. That made it a really hard race for me. I like Phillip Island and I must finish well there and try to find good rhythm for Motegi.
James Ellison (16th)
I'm very disappointed to be honest. We've been working really hard all weekend to cure this handling problem as no matter what we do we cant get enough weight on the rear of the bike to make it steer into the corner but that has been going on all year. The frustrating thing is that no matter what we try with the setup we can't get the bike to handle properly. I have to thank my team because they have been working very hard all year attempting to get the most out of the bike.
Shinya Nakano (DNF)
Starting from 12th on the grid I knew I would have to push hard to make up places on the first lap, before the leaders managed to pull away. I set Randy up for a pass on the inside going into turn nine, but then the riders in front of me braked earlier than I was expecting, and I had nowhere to go but to the outside. Unfortunately, that's exactly where Randy was and I collided with him and put us both in the gravel trap. I'm sorry for Randy and I'm glad he managed to stay upright and continue, but I'm also sorry for the team that I crashed out so early, because they've worked so hard all weekend. All I can do is put this behind me, and start focussing on next weekend's race in Australia.
Toni Elias (DNF)
I made a good start, my best of the season, and quickly found a good rhythm. I lapped with the lead group and felt comfortable, but when I tried to push harder as we were entering the first corner on lap 16, I braked a bit too late and lost the front end. It’s a shame because we fell when we were riding a good race and I feel sorry for the team.
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