Quotes from Valentino Rossi

Maybe the bike is more dangerous, but the passion for the car for me is second to the bike.

My father raced bikes. He gave me the passion very early. I had my first bike when I was three or four years old.

I'm lucky because I don't feel too much pressure - it's only in the last hour before the race, and even then it's good, positive pressure.

However I am looking forward to the two new Grands Prixs both Shanghai and Laguna Seca are fantastic tracks and it will be good to race at them.

Barcelona is a special track. I have always loved the layout of the circuit, but also the atmosphere and the fans are special. It has always been good fun.

The most important thing is to have a good relationship with the bike... you have to understand what she wants. I think of a motorcycle as a woman, and I know that sounds silly, but it's true.

I have so much respect for my opponents; many of them watched the races as little children and were supporting me!

We kept on racing, doing something that Luis [Salom] loved. Fortunately or unfortunately, life goes on.

Our sport is dangerous. We risk the life out there, so we need to stay calm and focused and leave all the rest out.

But I could also start F1 or rallying. I love rallying much more.

I have won on Honda and Yamaha so maybe it is interesting to win with a third team, Ducati, who are Italian.

I like physical exercise. I actually like sports in general. I really like snowboarding and playing soccer, too.

Maybe if Graziano make another work or another sport I wouldn't have had this passion to be a rider.

Also, when I started racing he knew a lot of people and it was more easy for me to find the first bike, so I have a good chance for sure.

In my opinion we are at the limit now, and 17 races is really too much. With all the testing that we do now, it means we're always on the bike and it's quite difficult.

The great fights with your strongest rivals are always the biggest motivation. When you win easily it's not the same taste.

I race to win. If I am on the bike or in a car it will always be the same.

To be a great motorbike racer, the most important thing is passion for the bike.

You look at Moto3, the races are very exciting. Moto2 is fantastic, and then MotoGP is boring.

The work that we do during the winter is very important; we have a new bike and it's important to develop it during this time, and we start with this test.

Riding a race bike is an art - a thing that you do because you feel something inside.

I am able to ride the bike and think clearly about strategy and tyres. I also have positive thinking. I am very constructively critical.

To win the Championship in the first year will be hard. We need time to become competitive and win races.

Once the races begin it's more difficult and there is never that much time for testing.