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Not a day goes by without the riders stating how unpredictable the MotoGP is this year and “today we had another surprise, the sensations with the tyres and bike continuously change” reflects Valentino, 9th in a wet qualifying. He and the Yamaha usually do well in these conditions, but the same could be said for Dovizioso and the Ducati.
“We were used to more consistent behaviour from one track to another, even last year with the Michelins. But now we never know what to expect” continues Rossi.
What's happening?
“We don't know, last week Zarco was on pole in the wet with the 2016 Yamaha and today he's 19th. It's not a bike problem, I too was competitive in Holland”.
So the factor is the tyres, is it a quality issue?
“I wouldn't know, but usually if there is that kind of problem you get one tyre that doesn't work and that's it. Now though we're at a track where all the tyres are fine and then another where none of them are any good. I think it's a question of the marriage between the tyres and asphalt”.
This complicates everything…
“On the one hand it's hard, you never know what to expect. You can do the same things on the bike and one week you're phenomenal and the next week no. The positive thing is that you can be in the shit one week and then really strong the week after (he laughs)”.
Here things are going badly…
“As I said, we were used to setting up the bike in a certain way and continuing like that at all tracks, with a few modifications. But now, you never know what will happen: we have to start over from scratch each weekend”.
How has today gone?
“Well in the morning, we were able to improve the bike in the dry and even if my pace wasn't brilliant, I also wasn't far from the fastest guys. In the wet though, all the Yamahas expect Folger were struggling”.
Are you hoping for a dry race at this point?
“Yes because I can be more competitive, but this is a crazy weekend and the weather keeps changing too. Anything can happen and so it's important to have the bike ready for the wet too”.
Even a race with a bike change…
“Yes, the asphalt dries really fast here, so we need to be ready for any situation and also reactive in order to make the right decision quickly”.
In case of a flag-to-flag, having only one new frame would be a problem.
“Also because I'm getting on better with that frame, in both the wet and the dry, I think I'll start with that one anyway”.
You'll start further back, Marquez is on pole while Dovi and Vinales are close to you.
“Anything could happen tomorrow, right to the last lap, the weather will make the difference. Marc seems to have something more in the dry compared to the wet, but at least the three of us who leading the championship will start together”.
