During today’s exciting battle for the pole position between Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez, we probably saw the best Lorenzo ever.
The Yamaha was not only fast, he was also fearless and underneath it all, was the wish to strike a blow against his rival’s ever growing confidence.
Unfortunately for Lorenzo, who continued setting new benchmarks, the Repsol Honda rookie reacted with even lower lap times and unheeding the slide in his first run and controlling his RCV in the second, he not only shattered the record, he also gave the Yamaha rider a psychological blow.
“It’s not fantastic because we didn’t make pole position.
I was surprised about the improvement from the pace lap to the qualifying lap, it was a big jump, almost one second and a half.
When I saw my lap time on my bike I thought I made pole position but when I saw the classification I saw P2 and was disappointed as I put all my effort into the lap, but it wasn’t enough.
Race pace is good but we have to see where the others are tomorrow,” said Lorenzo.
Valentino Rossi may not be happy after suffering a massive 1.
3 second gap with the same M1 as his team mate, but he was satisfied with his second row start in sixth and his pace that is around the 2’03s.
“I’m not so happy with the distance from Lorenzo and Marquez, they did a fantastic job but I’m happy about the second row,” said Rossi.
“It’s very important and better than the third row.
My lap time is quite fast but especially I’m quite satisfied with today because we improved the setting of the bike this afternoon and I’m a lot more constant with pace.
I can stay with a good pace which is important for tomorrow.
Now we have to try to make another step, I have two or three corners where I’m not so strong and I’m suffering on some bumps.
Tomorrow we will try to improve.
”Talking about Marquez, the Italian seems truly impressed by the Spaniard and his abilities, and above the confidence of the rookie in taking a MotoGP machine to limit on tracks that he has never raced on with a 1000cc.
“Sincerely, what Marc is doing this year is impressive.
Marc has started with the championship, in 2000, when I was rookie, I didn’t start with the championship because in the first year I think it is impossible.
For that reason, I don’t win.
Well, not just for that.
Marc has already arrived with the mind to win and I never see a rookie like him, in all other motorsport that I know.
”