M2: Portuguese GP: Tech 3 qualifying report

Estoril storms help de Rosa claim season best grid position

Tech 3 Racing Moto2 rider Raffaele de Rosa will start from a season best fifth position on the grid for the Grand Prix of Portugal after another day of severe weather disruption at Estoril.

Torrential rain and gusting winds saw this afternoon's qualifying session cancelled with large patches of standing water making it impossible for the large Moto2 field to contemplate taking to the track.

Grid positions for tomorrow's 26-lap race were decided on combined standings from the three weather-hit practice sessions.

Most of the Moto2 field posted their quickest times on a rapidly drying track yesterday afternoon and de Rosa'a best lap of 1.52.808 got him close to the front row in fifth. He comfortably beat his previous best qualifying result of seventh in the season's opening round in Qatar and he's confident he can challenge for a maiden top ten finish. Yuki Takahashi's ninth place on the grid was also as a result of his time set in the second practice session. The Japanese rider clocked a best of 1.54.302 in the best conditions witnessed over a wretched weekend for the weather.

Raffaele de Rosa 5th 1.52.808
"Today was a little bit strange because it is not very often that the weather is so bad that it makes it impossible to ride. I am really happy that I pushed so hard in tricky conditions yesterday because although I didn't know it at the time it would give my best grid position of the season. This morning when the conditions were really treacherous with so much rain we improved the setting of the bike a lot and we had more rear grip and better feeling from the front. I had a crash but that can happen in wet conditions but apart from that, I am confident of achieving a strong result."

Yuki Takahashi 9th 1.54.302
"I can't really complain with ninth on the grid because the last few races I've been a long way down the grid. If the race is wet tomorrow then I'm convinced I can be fighting for the top five because I've had a good feeling in the rain throughout. But if the race is dry then it becomes a lottery for everybody and nobody has really got any information. At the moment it looks like it will be wet and I've got a good set-up, so hopefully I'll be able have a good race for a strong finish to the season."

-source: tech 3