Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi hails Marc Marquez's performance
Valentino Rossi says the advantage Marc Marquez held over his fellow Honda riders in Friday MotoGP practice in Qatar proves that the Spanish rookie is a serious threat to the establishment
Marquez was fastest in both Friday sessions at Losail, while his factory Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa struggled for pace, failing to get into the top five in either session.
Rossi said Marquez had benefited from slipstreaming his Yamaha in practice two, but that his pace was real.
"In the second practice it was a gift from me because he came in behind," said Rossi.
"But like I said before, he's very strong. It looked like the Hondas had some problems yesterday and today but he is at the front anyway.
"That means he is very, very fast."
Seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi was third in two of the three sessions so far and fourth in the other. He believes a front row qualifying spot will be essential.
"The main target for me is to try to start from the first row, but I don't know if that will be possible because Jorge [Lorenzo] is very fast, he is very strong over a lap, and I expect the Hondas to be very strong," Rossi said.
"If I cannot start on the first row, it will be important to be close to it because I have a good rhythm so I can do a good race, but I have to start in the first five."
Share Or Save This Story
Is it game over for Valentino Rossi?
Burgess surprised by Valentino Rossi's decision to part ways
Toby Moody previews the MotoGP showdown
Why Rossi is putting pressure on Ducati over its 2027 MotoGP rider line-up
Rossi signs new BMW contract, returns to GT World Challenge
Why Rossi's serious approach to car racing in 2024 may create a dilemma
Nicky Hayden: Remembering motorsport's much-loved "one-off" five years on
Morbidelli/Rossi relationship won’t change as MotoGP team-mates
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Red Bull went against Verstappen's set-up feedback: “Sometimes they have to feel it”
What we learned from the 2026 F1 Canadian GP sprint race and qualifying
Verstappen reignites quit threats amid doubts over 2027 F1 rule changes
Update: Hamilton avoids Canadian GP grid penalty for impeding Gasly
Subscribe and access Autosport.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.
Top Comments