Valentino Rossi was hoping for something other than a simple sixth position on the starting grid for this edition of the Czech Republic Grand Prix. Good groundwork giving a promising pace in the race required a good base to take off. But a qualification is often only played over one round. A roll of the dice that the Doctor missed with, what's more, Márquez playing the dogs in a bowling game.
The exercise started with a hard front tire, the one which won its first Grand Prix success twenty years ago on this same Brno track had just switched to a soft one to make the final attack, like in Jerez. The hope of at least a first line was therefore present. However, he first came across a Pol Espargaro before seeing the fury arrive Márquez.
In the end, two missed rounds and a third line: “ it's like I was stuck in a traffic jam on the ring road » regrets the Yamaha official. “ First I had Pol in front of me who I had decided to use in the straight to start my fast lap. But Márquez has arrived. He was playing for his pole position, that's how it is, there's no going back on it. I couldn't express my potential. Because I'm happy with my speed here. But starting from the second row with Barberá and Aleix Espargaró up front will make things more difficult ».
However, tomorrow, Sunday, with the promised change in conditions, things were announced as complicated enough like this: “ there are a lot of uncertainties for tomorrow. Rain or not? And if the rain doesn't fall, temperatures will be much lower. Which means a more complicated relationship with the front tire. Between the tough and the softest, the choice is open. All have their advantages and disadvantages ". What if the rain comes? “ So far we have never been good in races where we had to change bikes ". This is what is said.
