MotoGP switch to Michelin helping Valentino Rossi's qualifying form

The seven-time MotoGP champion discussed the need to improve his Saturday performances during the pre-season, as the key to mounting another title challenge.

Last year, excluding Rossi's grid penalty for the Valencia finale, team-mate and champion Jorge Lorenzo's average grid position was 2.83 and Rossi's 5.29.

While Lorenzo only started off the front row of the grid four times in the 18 races, Rossi did so on 12 occasions - again overlooking Valencia - including for each of the first seven races.

Of this year's three grands prix, Rossi started two on the front row, before claiming his first pole position in 10th months at Jerez on Saturday.

Rossi's first Spanish Grand Prix pole since 2005 also means he has now qualified on the front row of the grid in three consecutive races for the first time since 2009.

While that is helped in part by Ducati and Suzuki losing softer-tyre concessions for this season, Rossi has also been an average of 0.471 seconds closer to pole each time, compared to the four corresponding sessions last year.

Having discussed his improved practice form on Friday, Rossi credits Michelin's return as a factor in his qualifying upswing.

"It looks like this year in qualifying I am stronger, I am faster compared to last year," Rossi said.

"Last year it was one of my weak points with Bridgestone.

"With the Michelin I feel better, I was in the front also in the last two grands prix, but to take pole position is another taste.

"Maybe because I grew up as a rider with these [Michelin] tyres and I arrived to Bridgestone already quite old.

"Also, the thing is that with Michelin, usually, we used the softs [for qualifying] and for the race you use the hard.

"But with Bridgestone a lot of times you have to qualify with the same tyre as in the race.

"I think [it helps] that but essentially I don't know."

ROSSI'S QUALIFYING BY THE NUMBERS
2015 v 2016 first four races

Average grid position

2015: 6.25
2016: 2.75

Average gap to pole