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Rossi defends qualifying strategy after missing out on pole
Valentino Rossi has defended his decision to not pit during the second phase of qualifying at Sepang, even though Andrea Dovizioso improved his pace after changing the rear tyre.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Oct 29, 2016, 12:39 PM
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Rossi led a Yamaha two-three in Q2, which took place on a wet track, falling 0.246s short of Ducati rider Dovizioso in the fight for pole.
While Dovizioso started on the soft wet rear tyre and switched to the hard compound midway through the session, Rossi – along with the majority of others – decided to go straight through without pitting.
Speaking afterwards, Rossi said his crew had considered doing a tyre change, but in the end felt that trying to stay out and get the best out of the first set of tyres was the best course.
“Usually in qualifying you give 100 percent on a new tyre, then you come in with a new tyre and you give 110,” said the Italian.
“We spoke a lot about the [right] way [to go], but usually in 15 minutes it’s difficult to arrive on the limit on wet tyres. So we decide to go straight [without pitting].
“On the last lap I improved a little bit to get second place, so it was a good strategy for us.”
Dovizioso changed his strategy
Explaining his strategy, Dovizioso admitted that he had initially planned to go through the session without stopping before changing his mind and diving for the pits to equip a hard rear.
In the end, the Ducati man’s second lap on the stiffer rubber was enough to secure his second pole of the season and his team’s third.
“My strategy was to not stop, and make qualifying with the soft [rear],” said Dovizioso. “But I knew almost everybody had the hard, so I thought maybe my strategy was wrong.
“I was able to make a really good time on the first lap. I didn’t push 100 percent, but I felt on entry the movement was too much. So I couldn’t make the second or third lap.
“I decide to come in the box, and that gave me possibility to do two fast laps with the hard tyre.
“For sure I could have improved with a third lap but the second was enough for pole position.”
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