Valentino Rossi buoyed by season best qualifying

Valentino Rossi played down his hopes of claiming a second MotoGP victory of 2013 at the Sepang track in Malaysia tomorrow after the factory Yamaha rider secured a season best grid position.

The 34-year-old will start tomorrow’s 20-lap race – the first of a grueling flyaway triple-header in Malaysia, Australia and Japan – from second position after he survived a huge scare in the early stages of QP2.

The nine-times world champion set a best time of 2.00.336 to finish just 0.325s behind world championship leader Marc Marquez, who romped to a fourth successive pole position.

Rossi set his best on his final flying lap as conditions improved, with some sections of the vast Sepang International Circuit soaked by rain just minutes before the start of QP2.

Worst affected was the run between turns five and seven and Rossi said: “I didn’t expect that it was more wet it in other parts of the track because there were only a few spots of rain in front of the pits.

“On the first lap I arrived at Turn 6 and someone had said to be careful at Turn 5. I arrived at Turn 6 and had a big slide. It was a very scary moment and my bike was very clever to come back. I was lucky.

“I knew I had good potential because I was happy with the set-up of the bike and I had a good pace on used tyres, so with new tyres I knew I could be faster.  The conditions were very difficult but we were able to do good times.

“I am very happy because this is the first time I am second on the grid this season and I am close to pole, so it is a very good weekend for me. Now I hope to make a good race and arrive in front.”

Rossi though played down hopes he could capture only a second win of the season to add to his success in the famous Dutch TT at Assen in late June.

Rossi has finished on the podium three times in the seven races since his Holland success and he added: “In the last races we have improved a lot and I am in a better way with the tyres.  Here it is very important for me to have confirmation that we are going in the right direction.

“I was very confident with the bike today but we will see what happens tomorrow. The other guys are very fast. Marc will be strong and Jorge (Lorenzo) has an incredible pace, plus Pedrosa.  It will be hard but I will focus on myself and try to fight with the top three.”