Rossi: Front row is always very important

A last gasp lap from Valentino Rossi saw the championship leader claw a front row start from his title rival, Jorge Lorenzo. Rossi timed his final lap to perfection and crossed the line with mere seconds to spare before piping Lorenzo to third on the grid by just 0.011s.

“I’m so happy because the front row is always very important. This time maybe it is also a bit more important because I was able to beat Jorge on the last lap with a small distance, but I was able to stay on the front row. I’m also happy because we improved a lot the bike, the setting and the pace was not so bad. We have still something to work, to make a bit better, but I’m happy because I’m happy and can ride the bike in a good way. In the qualifying, the strategy was OK.

“I try for the three tyres and it worked, especially the last lap was a good lap because I was able to ride a bit faster, without any mistakes and improve a bit the lap time that was crucial to be in the top three. But anyway third, fourth, fifth doesn’t change a lot and I think tomorrow the race will be very hard for everybody, in general, and also the fight with Jorge because he also has a good pace. Also the weather for three, four, five days we don’t understand nothing because we don’t see nothing!

“So can rain tonight and tomorrow dry, so this already change the condition of the track. Or can not rain tonight and rain tomorrow at any time. I hope for a dry race, but we have to be ready an prepare for all the conditions.”