Breaking news
MotoGP Malaysian GP
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
Copy link
Share on Viber
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.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Marquez targets podium despite “not feeling 100 percent”
Next article Lorenzo: Strong wet-weather pace no surprise
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Andrea Dovizioso
Andrea Dovizioso: “Marc Marquez’s situation is much more serious than it seems”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Andrea Dovizioso: “Marc Marquez’s situation is much more serious than it seems”
Yamaha signs Andrea Dovizioso as MotoGP test rider
MotoGP
MotoGP
Italian GP
Yamaha signs Andrea Dovizioso as MotoGP test rider
Dovizioso to test Yamaha MotoGP bike in Misano this week
MotoGP
MotoGP
Dovizioso to test Yamaha MotoGP bike in Misano this week
More from
Yamaha Factory Racing
Alex Marquez undergoes surgery on his right shoulder and begins recovery at home
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Alex Marquez undergoes surgery on his right shoulder and begins recovery at home
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
MotoGP responds to Yamaha’s Qatar GP withdrawal
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
MotoGP responds to Yamaha’s Qatar GP withdrawal
Latest news
Liam Lawson’s remarkable form is giving Red Bull a headache for 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
Liam Lawson’s remarkable form is giving Red Bull a headache for 2027
Hanley Motorsports announces multi-class IMSA arrival with BMW support and DXDT deal
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Hanley Motorsports announces multi-class IMSA arrival with BMW support and DXDT deal
Ryan Preece will switch to No. 6 for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
4 h
Ryan Preece will switch to No. 6 for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe