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by Gianmaria Rosati
Ready to attack. This could be the slogan that links Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa. Despite missing out on the front row, the two Honda riders were out, all guns blazing, during qualifying. The general opinion is that the pecking order can change during the race.
At a track where the Yamahas started out as favourites, the championship leader wasted no time in showing that he's able to attack and remained inside the top five throughout all the practice sessions, reaching qualifying with the knowledge that the front row was within grasp. He missed out on that by a fraction of a second, but this doesn't worry him. “During the practices, I was consistently fast and also had good sensations during qualifying - explained #93 - my first flying lap was good, but as I started the second lap I found traffic that slowed me down, after which the tyre wasn't in a state to be able to give the max. So I missed out on the front row, but am pleased because I feel fast and starting from the second row will mean there's rubber on the track and I'll have the better line at turn one”.
For Marc, as for many, the main problem is deciding on the tyre to use during the race, but he appears to be close to resolving that particular dilemma. “If the temperature is the same as in qualifying I think I'll put in the extra hard at the front and the soft at the rear – he specifies - but the forecast shows cloud and if that's the case we may have to reconsider. Also, Valentino tested the hard rear during the practice and was fast, so we'll wait until tomorrow to decide”.
What is certain is that the Spaniard doesn't feel in any way inferior. “I don't think that a podium behind the Yamahas is the best I can do. Misano is down on my calendar as a track at which I have to defend myself, but considering the practices, I think I can be in the fight for the win”.
Meanwhile Dani Pedrosa has shown signs of recovery in recent races, and is confirming this trend at Misano. Eighth on the grid is not the best, but the Spanish rider is nevertheless confident: “Yesterday and today we've worked hard to prepare for the race, and I'm pleased with how we're doing – analysed #26 - tomorrow it will be important to start well and lap fast from the outset, to be able to stay with the leaders. The tyres? I'm not yet sure what my choice will be; I have various options”.
Photo: Costantino Di Domenico
