Valentino Rossi’s press conference at Phillip Island 2004
Q: What was more important, to beat Honda or to beat Sete Gibernau? And second question, do you feel at this moment like Eddie Lawson and Giacomo Agostini?
So, for me is always more important, like I say, beat the riders. Beat Gibernau, or beat Biaggi, or beat Capirossi. Our sport is a fight between riders. For sure, beat Honda is a great pleasure but I don't fight against Honda with Yamaha. I am a Yamaha rider, Gibernau is a Honda rider. But for me if Gibernau race with Ducati or Biaggi race with another bike is exactly the same.
And no Lawson or Agostini. I think every rider is very different. I feel like Valentino Rossi now.
Q: The last one. Your relationship with Gibernau can be in the future like before Qatar. And if you think that Gibernau has been the most difficult adversary that you have in these titles.
My personal relationship with Gibernau I think is not very important for anyone except for me and him. The important is the sport, the important is fight in the track normal like today hard but normal this is the important for everybody. And the relationship between me and him are only our problems, is not very important I think. The other thing? Yes, at this time I think yes. These two years Gibernau go very well. This year also strongest than the last year. I'm lucky I fight with a lot of great champions, starting from Ueda, Sakata, to Capirossi and Harada in 250, to Biaggi, another time Capirossi, and now Gibernau. I fight with the best riders in the world. Also Barros. But I think in one year, especially this year, Gibernau is the strongest, yes.
