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On the one hand, seeing Valentino open the third row is some kind of miracle after witnessing his performance on Friday. On the other hand, Rossi is used to a different kind of performance in the wet. The glass, depending on how you see it, can be half full or half empty and the Doctor is well aware of this.
“in FP3 we made some quite big changes to the bike and I felt better, but then it started to rain and we couldn't do any more - he explains - Luckily it continued to rain in the afternoon too, but I'm not as incisive in the wet as I was last year”.
This didn't stop him though and he rolled up his sleeves.
“We were able to improve session after session and in Q1 and I was able to complete a great lap and just scrape through to the next session - he continues - It was very important, in Q2 I pushed but closed 7th, on the third row, nothing special but seeing how things were it could have gone worse”.
He was able to understand one important thing.
“The sensations are similar to those I have in the dry, but having tested the bike in the wet and having understood that sensations are the same could be important in terms of improving the setting and balance".
What conditions would you prefer tomorrow?
“I feel more confident in the dry, in the morning I didn't do badly, but we have to work and improve - he underlines- As ever on these occasions, we hope for either full dry or full wet, if it is half and half we never know what might happen”.
Vinales will start in front of him, and this might be useful when it comes to making up places.
“The start and first corners will be very important, then it will depend on the pace I have - he reflects - Even the tyre choice is not a given, because we can use the mediums and hards both at the front and rear. Over those 5 laps I managed to complete this morning, my pace wasn't bad but it wasn't stratospheric either. Then we need to see what the track condition is like”.
Speaking of tyres, the riders decided to postpone testing of the 2016 front.
“They told me last night, I finished late and couldn't go to the Safety Commission unfortunately. It could be interesting to try it but we'll continue with what we have”, he concludes.
While water helped Valentino, the same can't be said for Maverick who could easily have fought for the pole if it had been dry. “What didn't work today? It was wet”, jokes Vinales, who knows he has many arrows in his bow anyway, despite everything not having gone as he'd hoped.
“Sixth position isn't bad, I can make a good start and fight for the win - he states confidently- I feel good, motivated for tomorrow, we have a good chance. In qualifying I was wrong to put in the soft tyre on the last exit, after a couple of corners it was finished, with a different strategy it could have gone a lot better”.
