Will Valentino Rossi be the best MotoGP rider ever if he wins the 2015 title? Quite possibly. Yet despite the success, the nine titles, and the bank account, the 36-year-old Yamaha rider considers himself just a normal guy. In racing, though, he is ruthless. Heading to the Japanese GP at Motegi on October 4, Rossi leads the championship by 14 points over his teammate Jorge Lorenzo. Cycle World: How do you face the final part of the 2015 championship? Valentino Rossi: “It will be really hard because Lorenzo is very strong. His riding is close to perfection. We have ahead of us four complicated rounds. My 14-point lead is not so much, but have proved that if we work well, we can be competitive.” CW: At Aragon, you fought hard with Dani Pedrosa for 2nd, passing and re-passing him six times. Were risking too much? VR: “It was important to beat Dani for the extra four points. Too many risks? I did it with the championship in mind. I played all the cards, even one extra on the last lap overtaking Dani Pedrosa on the last chicane before the straight, where usually it’s not possible to pass. But Dani was inspired and he passed me back. He was stronger that Sunday!” CW: That was incredible performance. Is this the best Valentino ever? VR: “My approach to the races hasn’t changed in my 20-year career. If I have the chance to attack and to pass, I do it, trying to get the best possible result. I will tackle the four remaining races with the same spirit: I like all the racetracks.” 
CW: How would you define yourself with a tweet? VR: “Valentino Rossi, a racing rider with the number 46!” CW: And your bike? VR: “My bike is... special” CW: Have you had to deny yourself something to be who you are? VR: “No. To be a rider you need to dedicate lot of time to the physical preparation. In the last years I’m really focused on this aspect. I spend so many hours in the gym. But it’s not a problem. Honestly the guys of the VR46 Academy have helped me a lot. We train together and they represent for me a great motivation. In a way, they make me feel younger. I enjoy training with them. Then, on Saturdays we spend the day at the Ranch, which is also important training. They ride really fast and it’s an extra boost trying to beat them every time.” CW: How has MotoGP changed since your first GP in 1996? VR: “Nowadays, we have to deal with so many more factors that weren’t there in the past. It’s not enough to be a good rider, if you want to finish at the front. The riders have become incredible athletes. In the past, you could manage the race and fight only on the last laps. Now you need to train hard. You cannot allow yourself to go on track without being at 100 percent. When I am not at the races, I train every day. The race rhythm has increased. You need to be fully focused from the first to the very last lap. Physical training has become crucial to achieve such a high level of concentration and precision.” 
CW: Your father Graziano told us we’re seeing the best Valentino ever. He said, “When he was young, Valentino didn’t have such a motivation and sportive maturity, which is different from experience. In my opinion, motivation counts more than experience.” Do you agree? VR: “You need a combination of many things to get good results. Experience is one of these, and it can be very useful at the right moment. I don’t know if it helps to go faster, but for sure it’s an important element that has helped me a lot. Being experienced helps you to make fewer mistakes when you are on track. This is the positive side for being around for so many years! But motivation is the key. More than training, more than experience or age, motivation counts. You have to ask yourself: ‘Why am I racing?’ I race because I like it, because I’m really enjoying it. I like to set up my bike and ride it on track. After 20 years in the GPs I’m still highly motivated. Everything else is a consequence.” CW: How important is it to learn from your rivals to stay at the top? VR: “I have always challenged myself and it’s also important to learn from the rivals. Every rider has his own style, and you have to count on some elements that cannot be changed. On the contrary, the bike or the tires can change and it’s important to adapt yourself. It’s up to the rider to understand what he can change and how much he can adapt.” 
CW: Max Biaggi, Casey Stoner, Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo: Who has been your toughest rival? VR: “Jorge. He is in an incredible physical and mental shape. When he is so strong, and when he finds the perfect conditions, he is unbeatable. He has improved a lot. He is more focused than before. He is fast and able to find quickly the best setup of the bike.” CW: You used to play a battle of nerves with your rivals. This year, some of your tweets have put pressure on Lorenzo. Can social networking be part of the game? VR: “I don’t think so. Facebook and Twitter are meant to be fun.” CW: Nine world titles and the tenth in sight: Do you have more dreams? VR: “Now I’m fully committed to MotoGP, but there are so many things I would like to do but can’t because of a lack of time.” CW: You have involved your best friends in your company (VR46) and at the races. Does friendship come first? VR: “Friendship is very important to me. With some friends, we’ve known each other since we were kids and it’s a very strong relationship. They always tell me what they think even when I am wrong. It’s great to share with them the best moments. I also have many friends in the team, and I like to share my passion with them.” 
CW: Do you consider yourself a normal guy? VR: “Absolutely. Racing for me has always been fun. I will stop when I don’t enjoy it anymore. For me this is normal.” CW: “What is your typical day when you are at home? VR: “In general, I like to sleep. I usually sleep in the morning! In the afternoon, I train for two or three hours in the gym. We always train together with the guys of the Academy. On the weekend, we train at the Ranch. There is always a race at the end of the training session and we usually have dinner all together. It’s a good way to speak about racing and exchange opinions. I really like to spend my time with the guys of the Academy. They keep me young and boost my motivation.” CW: What will you do in the future? Are you scared by the routine? VR: “I’m not scared by the routine because I will continue to do what I like. MotoGP takes almost all my time, but when I will stop I will have time to do all the other things that I like.” 
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