MotoGP, Rossi: Honda worries me, Marquez the favourite

For the third consecutive time Valentino will start ahead of his team-mate Vinales, so since using the new frame. In the first part of the season, Rossi was struggling against Vinales in terms of the flying lap, but now the situation seems to be reversed.

“I'm not sure I'd put it like that - he reflects after qualifying 2nd at Brno - It's been a strange year, I reached the podium 3 times with the old frame but those results were almost a surprise to me, now I feel better and more competitive”.

What was the turning point?
“The Jerez tests. The team and I understood what wasn't working and gave Yamaha the right feedback. With the new frame I can enter the turns fast, the bike has better balance”.

Something we've also seen at Brno…
“The weekend started well and today I was able to improve. In FP3, I realised I could be fast with the new tyre and in qualifying I made a good lap. The front row is important because 6 of us can fight for the podium tomorrow".

Who are the most dangerous rivals?
“The Hondas are favourites, Marquez a little more than Pedrosa perhaps. I have to admit that the Hondas worry me, in the last two races they've been very fast, while here they also have the advantage of having tested”.

What kind of race do you expect?
“There's a group of us behind the Hondas and every position is important considering how close we are in terms of points. the Ducatis could also be a worry, with Lorenzo slightly quicker than Dovizioso. The Desmosedici also seems to consume the rear tyre less”.

Vinales seems to be struggling…
“A little, but watch out because he's fast in the second part of the race and it won't be easy to finish in front of him”.

You keep talking about the second half of the races…
“I have good pace, but after a few laps the rear tyre starts to slide. So it's important to start on the front row, i need to start strong”.

Dovizioso spoke about the opposite strategy…
“In my career I've never found starting slow to be helpful at the end (he laughs). the tyre choice will be important, medium and hard are both an option at the front and rear”.

How will you decide?
"Looking at tomorrow's conditions, the forecast isn't good. First we need to see if it will race and then consider the temperature”.

Will you race with Nieto in your thoughts?
“I think we all will, also in the other categories where he was king. We'll give it more than our all”.