After a relatively difficult first day during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Valentino Rossi had raised the bar extremely well by taking the second fastest time in FP3 this morning (see here).
As usual, the Iwata rider addressed all the topics during the press conference he held in the hospitality of the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team.
“We started well this morning, because in the rain, we improved the settings a lot, and I was, I don't want to say surprised, but I was happy because I had good times. »
The progression was due to more relevant settings “especially at the back. We always work on electronics between Friday and Saturday, and between Saturday and Sunday, because the more data you have, the more precise the settings. But the biggest step forward was in balancing and changing the rear settings. »
On a much less wet track than in previous sessions, FP4 went less well for the Italian driver, since, although he finished 7th, he also suffered a small fall at turn #8, which which was the first since his return from his broken leg. But fears of another injury were quickly dissipated as the nine-time world champion got back to his feet and attempted to restart his M1.
“Unfortunately, in FP4, we didn't change anything but we suffered a lot in these conditions. When there is not enough water, we suffer as usual with rear adhesion. I was lucky because it was a highside, but luckily the bike fell below me. I have a little more pain now, but it's okay because I didn't hit the leg. One finger, as usual [Rossi has a small bandage on his finger]. But I'm doing well, because it was a big crash. »
The Doctor does well but nevertheless leaves his number #1 motorcycle there, despite the undeniable efforts he made to bring it back to the box...
“It was my racing bike, with the best settings, and so it was important for qualifying. But unfortunately, there was too much damage, so I spent a lot of effort for nothing! »
Then came qualifying, and the surprise of seeing number 46 start with slick tires…
The Doctor explains it by the poor behavior of his M1 on a barely wet track “a bit also for this reason, that’s why we took the risk, because some trajectories were dry. Unfortunately, the track didn't dry fast enough. So you have to drive very slowly, and when you drive very slowly, the problem is that the tire temperature drops a lot, and after that it's very difficult to get back to normal grip. So it was impossible. »
A lost bet which, however, does not call into question the competitiveness of the Yamaha rider, if, as forecasts anticipate, the track is wet tomorrow during the race...
“Starting 12th will be very difficult tomorrow, but for me the most important thing for us will depend on the conditions. If it's completely wet, I think our pace is not bad. With less water, no. »
Finally, Valentino Rossi has a word to salute the performance of Johann zarco...
“He was very good because he put the extra-soft at the end and did one lap. I think it made the difference and also that this bike is better in the wet. So it’s a set.
It is always very difficult and very presumptuous to want to judge the action of this or that driver, especially when it comes to Valentino Rossi, but, seen from the outside, the error of number 46 does not seem so much. having wanted to try slick tires, but rather having persevered with them, despite lap times being 10 seconds slower. The Yamaha rider returned to his box a few minutes before the end of the session to put on wet tires, but it was obviously too late to be able to set an interesting pace in a single flying lap.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Valentino Rossi has made a strategic error regarding the timing of tire changes, but it also gives us hope of a good comeback tomorrow...
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