Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi blames front tyre for crash

Valentino Rossi blamed the poor performance of one of Bridgestone’s two front tyre options in Brno for his late qualifying crash today.

The 30-year-old lost the front-end of his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 with just over three minutes of qualifying remaining on the entry to Turn 5.

et while he ended the session watching on TV in the Fiat Yamaha garage, Rossi’s best time of 1.56.145 still secured him a third successive pole position.

Rossi, who goes into tomorrow’s 22-lap race with a 25-point lead over closest title rival and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, said: “It was a good practice for us because this afternoon we improved the setting a lot.

“When I put it all together it was a good lap with a 56.1 and a little bit better than my old record in 2006 with the 990. I had one more soft rear tyre to try and I pushed a lot.

“I made a very good first sector but I lost the front because I was pushing very hard to try and make a 55. Unfortunately this weekend just one of the two front tyres from Bridgestone works.

“I’d already done 16 laps on the front tyre for the last soft rear and for sure it was a big stress for the front.

“On the data I braked exactly as before but I lost the grip. It was my mistake but I’m happy because I’m fit for tomorrow.”

The crash could prove costly though for the reigning world champion, who might have already lost one of the five engines he has available for the final seven races under new restrictions designed to cut costs.

ngineers were assessing the damage in the Brno paddock tonight to see if it could be used again, otherwise Rossi only has four YZR-M1 engines left for the remainder of the season.

He added: “It’s tricky about the crashes. In my case now they check if the engine is okay or if we have to use another engine. So you pay more for a mistake.”