The ongoing Bologna Motorshow has provided the first opportunity since the Valencia season f🧔inale for Italian MotoGP stars Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri to discuss countryman Valentino Rossi's move to Yamaha.

Italian sportspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport asked each for their opinion on Rossi's move, why he made it - plus its impact on their own aspirations.
🌺Capirossi was the only non-Honda rider to win a race in 2003, and Ducati's superb debut season performance means that the former 125 and 250cc world champion is now approaching 2004 in fighting mood.

"We're ce𓃲rtainly aiming to win," Loris told the paper. "We want to be in contention for every victory and that is a to🌠tal change of mentality compared with this past season." And what of Rossi moving to Yamaha? "He wanted another challenge... but [Yamaha] are also paying him a load of money."

Double 2003 winner Biaggi is obviously keen to exploit Rossi's move away from Honda to the Roman's own former employers, but would say only t🅰hat, unlike Ross🌺i, he 'believes in Honda'.

"Rossi will be riding a good Yamaha," said the Camel Pramac Pons rider. "Surely Yamaha will put everything they can into 🦩next season. However, I believe in Honda, that Honda has the potential to win, and hope to do ꦛit."

Marco Melandri is by far the least experienced of the Italian trꦬio, the former 250cc champion having ma🅠de his MotoGP debut in an injury struck - but at times impressive - 2003 season with the factory Yamaha team.

Melandri has been forced to make way for Rossi and move to the satellite Tech 3 outfit for 2004, and q🐭uestioned whether the #46 bringing so many of his former Repsol Honda mechanics with him was a good idea. Melandri also backs others as pre-season favourites.

"Valentino has taken a risk in bringing his mechanics from Honda," sa꧋id Marco. "Perhaps I would have preferred those already at Yamaha,🐷 as they know the machine better. He's definitely showed 'balls' in leaving Honda though. I would pick (Sete) Gibernau and Capirossi as favourites."