Valentino Rossi says he was riding “like when he was young” in his battle for second place with Andrea Dovizioso in the MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix.
Rossi fought with the Ducati rider for the entirety of the 25-lap contest, and made a last-lap lunge at Turn 7 to take second to secure his first podium finish since last year's German Grand Prix.
The Argentina race marked the 23 years since Rossi made his grand prix debut in the 125cc Malaysian Grand Prix, and said he rode like he did in his younger days on Sunday.
Argentina GP: Riders' Standings | Manufacturer' Standings
“I'm very happy for me, for my team and for Yamaha because it's a long time I don't arrive on the podium, [prolonged] by the two mistakes I did at the end of last year [in Malaysia and Valencia],” he said post-race.
“We needed this result. We worked very well from Friday, and I ride like when I was young and I enjoy very much.
“The race was good. I expected to have a bit more pace than Dovi, but no. So I stay behind.
“But in the end I have two or three points where I was a bit faster than him. So I try on the last lap.
“Dovi was not able to do his famous cross [to retake second] and I'm happy.”
Rossi was one of the only frontrunners to opt for the medium rear tyre, but was “quite sure” in his choice, and says it likely helped him “a bit” in the closing stages of his battle with Dovizioso.
“I was quite sure about my choice on the medium, simply because we work hard during the practice and I have a good pace,” he added.
“This morning I tried the soft and I feel a little bit better, but I like more the medium. So in general you don't have the good choice and the right choice for everybody.
“I expected to be faster at the end, but in reality with Dovi we were very similar, but in the last laps I think the medium helped me a bit.”
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