Rossi “disappointed” me, his fans in Doha MotoGP

Rossi posted his worst qualifying result in his entire 25-year Grand Prix career at the Doha run in Qatar last weekend after limping into 21st place on board his Petronas SRT Yamaha.

He couldn’t save much in the race after the penultimate qualifying. The 42-year-old went 16th without points from the second race of the season and had also dropped from fourth to 12th place at the Qatar GP the week before.

After his worst start to a premier-class season since his first season in 2000, Rossi admitted he wasn’t sure his form would recover when MotoGP returns to Europe at the Portuguese GP next week.

Lorenzo – who was Rossi’s teammate in MotoGP for seven years – caught the eye of the Doha race in his new “99 Seconds” YouTube series.

“Rossi disappointed me, just as he probably disappointed his fans because a lot is expected of Valentino,” said Lorenzo.

“To get 21st in training, I think he said he had some exercises that he did worse in his career, but it is difficult to find a worse one.

“And in the race, outside of the points, I also think that it is difficult to find a race that Valentino finished without a crash or engine failure, outside of the points.

“It is the second time that he is way behind the other Yamaha.

“Let’s hope it’s a special occasion. He’s never been good in Qatar and better tracks are sure to come.

“I don’t know if it will be in Portimao, it will be difficult for him too. But he will definitely come back strong in Jerez. “

Also read:

Lorenzo also gave his opinion on Pramac rookie Jorge Martin, who took his first pole at the Doha GP before finishing third after the first 17 laps of the race.

While Martin was riding, Lorenzo shadows noticed himself and the double world champion Casey Stoner.

“When braking, he reminds me a lot of Stoner, also because of his aggressiveness and because he brakes very late and leaves the brakes very decisively like Casey,” said Lorenzo about Martin.

“And I also think that he looks a bit like me in that [riding] position in the middle of the corner.

“It depends a lot, practically touches with that [track with his] Elbows and even with the shoulder in some corners.

“And then he also has a lot of cornering speed. With the Ducati he could compare to a [Johann] Zarco, who brakes very directly and doesn’t prepare very well for cornering, right? [Jack] Müller. “