MotoGP news
Rossi prepared for Sunday's race
26 April 2009 / PhotosValentino is hoping for a smooth running of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix following the cancellation of qualifying on Saturday due to torrential rain. With the riders' fastest times taken from either of the two practice sessions, Champion Rossi starts on pole at Motegi ahead of Ducati's Casey Stoner and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.
|
|
"We've been very unlucky in these two first races and last year as well, because we've just had so much rain!" Rossi said after hearing the news of his premature pole. "This year has been worse, though, because first we had to delay the race in Qatar and now we've had to cancel qualifying here - I don't think it was such a good idea to come to Motegi in April! So now we're going into a race after just 45 minutes in the dry and 45 minutes in the wet, and I think maybe it will be one of the most uncertain races ever!"
Rossi's comments reflect upon the fact that, with one less practice session this year anyway, very little setup work has been performed on any bike in the field. "We're lucky, because we had a good session in the dry yesterday so we're on pole," the Italian continued. "That's very important for the race here but it's still impossible to be at 100% after such a short time and with so little data." The pole-sitter by default is hoping for no rain, although believes - with half of the practice running this weekend done in the wet - as long as conditions are not dramatically variable, any showers which may occur should not present major worries.
more news
- 07 Nov.
- 06 Nov.
- 05 Nov.
- 04 Nov.
- 03 Nov.
- 27 Oct.
- 25 Oct.
- 24 Oct.
- 23 Oct.
- 22 Oct.
- 21 Oct.
- 20 Oct.
Photo gallery
 |
 |
 |
 |
| more pictures | |||
|---|---|---|---|