MotoGP: ‘Easier to make mistakes this year’ according to Rossi

Valentino Rossi has admitted that it’s proven much easier to make mistakes in 2016, thanks both to the development of Michelin’s new tyres and because of the much-changed situation he finds himself in this year compared to last.

Struggling to close a massive 53-point gap to title leader Marc Marque when at this point last year he was dead level with Jorge Lorenzo in the race for the championship, Rossi admitted

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“Last year I was always in front fighting point by point, so the approach was very different. This year, you have to risk a little bit more when you’re behind – and that makes it easier to make mistakes.

“When I arrived to Austin, it was 25 races without a mistake – and when you go that long, you start to feel the pressure and think ‘maybe now is the time it happens.’ It’s difficult for everyone to go all season without any mistakes.”

Moreover, he says that the addition of new Michelin tyres, still very much under development, has also increased the risk – even if they’ve proven themselves to be better than last year’s tyres at some circuits.

“I think that this year with these tyres means it’s very easy to make mistakes. The Bridgestones had some problems at other tracks, and were worse at some tracks, but you were safer, especially with the front. So for everyone this year it is more difficult.”