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Rossi predicts "very open" Sepang MotoGP race

Valentino Rossi believes MotoGP's Malaysian Grand Prix will be "very open" as a large group of potential winners all have similarly strong pace.

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Saturday's qualifying session was closely-contested, with the top three of Dani Pedrosa, Johann Zarco and Andrea Dovizioso split by just 0.024 seconds.

The top seven, also including Rossi, Maverick Vinales, Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez, were also split by less than half a second.

Apart from close one-lap speed, Rossi, who qualified fourth, believe several of his rivals also have the long-run pace to fight for the podium and victory.

"It is very open, the fight for the victory and the fight for the podium because a lot of different riders for sure have the pace for the podium but also for the win," said the Yamaha rider.

"Pedrosa is always very strong in this race track but also Zarco is very fast, and also Dovi has a great pace. So I think the [riders on the] first row start for the victory for sure.

"In the second row, me, Maverick, Lorenzo and also for sure Marquez can fight anyway, so a lot of riders in front that are very strong."

Marquez, who was seventh in qualifying after a crash, expects his teammate Pedrosa and his title rival Dovizioso to fight for the win, and considers himself part of a multi-way fight for third.

"Looks like at the moment Dani and Dovi have the best rhythm and then I am among a few riders that can fight for the podium," said the Honda rider.

"We are there, three or four riders who can fight for the podium. But we'll see, maybe tomorrow during the afternoon, rain changes everything so we need to see how we can manage.

Lorenzo, who will start from sixth, added: "There is not a clear favourite [to win]. Pedrosa here is always very strong, and has a good pace.

"Also his light weight can be a disadvantage in the wet but can be an advantage in hot conditions.

"But then Rossi, Zarco, Vinales, Dovizioso, myself… we have similar pace."

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont

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