If, with the fifth time, free practice went well in Motegi for Valentino Rossi, qualifying was less successful with the twelfth time.
Ninth at the start of the race, the Italian driver unfortunately crashed on the sixth lap.
Quite concise in the official press release, the Doctor was more talkative during the press conference held at the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP hospitality venue, starting with the subject of his fall…
“This time it was a bad fall, at turn 7, a high side. Already yesterday, but even more so today. Today at turn seven, yesterday at turn eight. I was behind Aleix and I tried not to let go because I could keep his pace. But in the left curves I had no grip. Like I'm driving on ice. As soon as I opened the throttle, the rear started to slide very abruptly. When I realized what was happening, I was already flying through the air. So I was very lucky that my leg was OK. It's pain everywhere, but not too much, so it's good. »
The Yamaha rider then takes stock of the weekend…
“We struggled a lot throughout the weekend. It was very, very difficult because we never had good grip, especially at the rear. So we need to understand why. As always, it is important to give all information to Yamaha. For me, the combination of the M1 and the Michelin rear tire gives us a lot of problems in all conditions, but especially in the wet.
We need to figure out which direction to take and try, because during this weekend it was still very cold but we encountered all kinds of wet track conditions. With a lot of water, with not enough water, but we always struggled. It's very difficult. We must understand. I don't know what the solution is, because I don't know the problem. It's a strange situation. »
We then ask him if, as some members of his team think, the Michelin tires have become more flexible during the season...
“For me, compared to last year, it is very difficult to understand when you speak with Michelin. But for me, when I ride the bike, I have a different feeling, as if the tire is softer, and we struggle. Michelin says there have been no changes. And for sure, it's different when you're on the bike. If it's different on the bike, something is different. And it's also difficult to understand because, anyway, the tire works on Hondas and Ducatis, and so that's our problem. »
As for understanding the M1 2017…
“Even Zarco with the 2016 bike, who rode very well in the wet, in the last 5 laps had big problems and had to slow down by 3 or 4 seconds per lap. Tires do not work on Yamahas, new and old. We have our ideas, but we also have to take care of Michelin and figure out how to make these tires work which on other bikes are fine. »
Vinales still mathematically in the fight for the championship…
“Even a few races ago, not long ago, I was not very far in the standings, but I had already said that I was not in the race for the title, because we are not fast enough, we can be in qualifying but in the race we suffer. Maverick did a good job, though. »
Only a few months ago, Vinales seemed unbeatable….
“First of all, I think the others have improved, but we are also struggling. »
The show offered by Dovizioso and Marquez…
“A great battle, it’s very good for the sport that the two title contenders are fighting against each other. It was a big victory for Dovi and maybe it will continue until Valencia. »
The favorite for the title…
“Race after race the situation changes, now there are only 11 points difference and it will be a big battle. »
Japanese Grand Prix standings:
1 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati Team-Ducati
2 Marc MARQUEZ-Repsol Honda Team-Honda +0.249
3 Danilo PETRUCCI-OCTO Pramac Racing-Ducati +10.557
4 Andrea IANNONE-Team SUZUKI ECSTAR-Suzuki +18.845
5 Alex RINS-Team SUZUKI ECSTAR-Suzuki +22.982
6 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati Team-Ducati +24.464
7 Aleix ESPARGARO-Aprilia Racing Team Gresini-Aprilia +28.010
8 Johann ZARCO-Monster Yamaha Tech 3-Yamaha +29.475
9 Maverick VIÑALES-Movistar Yamaha MotoGP-Yamaha +36.575
10 Loris BAZ-Reale Avintia Racing-Ducati +48.506
11 Pol ESPARGARO-Red Bull KTM Factory Racing-KTM +56.357
12 Katsuyuki NAKASUGA -Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing-Yamaha +1'00.181
13 Sam LOWES-Aprilia Racing Team Gresini-Aprilia +1'00.980
14 Hector BARBERA-Reale Avintia Racing-Ducati +1'03.118
15 Tito RABAT-EG 0,0 Marc VDS-Honda +1'03.514
16 Scott REDDING-OCTO Pramac Racing-Ducati +1'04.162
17 Bradley SMITH-Red Bull KTM Factory Racing-KTM +1'06.271
18 Hiroshi AOYAMA-EG 0,0 Marc VDS-Honda +1'13.250
Provisional ranking of the World Championship:
1 Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 244 points
2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 233
3 Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 203
4 Dani PEDROSA-Honda 170
5 Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 168
6 Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 125
7 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 116
8 Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 111
9 Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 92
10 Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 84
11 Alvaro BAUTISTA-Ducati 70
12 Aleix ESPARGARO-Aprilia 62
13 Jack MILLER-Honda 56
14 Scott REDDING-Ducati 56
15 Andrea IANNONE-Suzuki 50
16 Loris BAZ-Ducati 45
Photos © Yamaha
