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It was another Friday to forget for Valentino, something of a tradition for him since climbing on the 2017 M1 for the first time. The strange conditions didn't help, with rain in the morning and a track that was not totally dry in the afternoon, leaving Rossi in 12th place.
“Yes, it was a difficult day - he confirms - This morning I was a bit worried in the wet because I need to cover more miles in those conditions with the new bike. I wasn't able to find the right set-up, last year it was all easier and natural in the rain while now we have to work”.
What are the problems?
“Similar to those in the dry, the rear wheel slides a lot in acceleration and I can't enter the turns fast”.
At the Le Mans test, you said you got on well in the wet though…
“In that case the grippiness of the asphalt solved some of the issues, I could ride as if it were dry”.
The Hondas are fast though…
“Their performance is worrying, it looks like the opposite of last year when we were fast in the wet while they were in trouble. We still need to find the right balance”.
Another black Friday?
“Unfortunately I have the same feelings I had in the first two GPs, while last year I was immediately fast and at ease here. Conditions were odd today but it seems we're destined to suffer in practice this year. FP3 will be key ahead of the race, we need to be in the top ten”.
Something you didn't manage today…
“The track wasn't fully dry, there were damp patches that prevented me from riding at 100%. Aside from that, I wasn't quick enough and didn't find a good setting”.
What else have you understood?
“That, like last year, we suffer in damp conditions. But I'm sure it will be hotter tomorrow and we'll be more competitive”.
This was a friendly track for Yamaha, what's changed?
“The Honda has a different engine, that changes many things but I think it's too soon to draw any conclusions. Today conditions were difficult, the only certain thing is that we suffer in the wet".
Did Pedrosa surprise you?
“Dani has always been very fast at Jerez and he confirmed that today. He was on the podium at Austin and it will be difficult to beat him”.
VINALES: RESULTS WILL BE DIFFERENT TOMORROW - The Hondas are also in Vinales' sights. Maverick was the best placed Yamaha, 6th, but we didn't see the usual unbeatable top gun, rather he suffered, also crashing at one point.
“Today was difficult because there were damp patches that were hard to see - he explains - That was the reason for my crash, I was slightly off line and ended up on wet asphalt”.
Aside from that, how do you sum up the day?
“I'm quite pleased, I think that track conditions will improve tomorrow and the results will be very different. This afternoon I couldn't push on the front as I wanted to and this made things tougher”.
How was it in the wet?
“The Le Mans test helped, but we have room to improve the electronics”.
Is Pedrosa the man to beat?
“He's very fast here, especially in the final sector, but Dani is one to watch out for at every track. It's difficult to understand the level of the Hondas right now, because their times came down a lot with the soft tyre. I feel good anyway”.
You also used the new fairing again…
“Tomorrow I'll compare the two to have a better idea. With the new one, the bike wheelies less, but loses something in the fast turns”.
