Gavin Emmett on Sunday’s race

Dani Pedrosa’s pole position and blistering pace make him prime candidate for a fourth win of 2010 at Misano on Sunday believes motogp.com’s Gavin Emmett, who considered how the race could shape up after watching qualifying on Saturday.

Speaking about the Spaniard, Gavin said: “He’s looked really good like he did in Indianapolis, and they couldn’t stick with him there. The bike looks fantastic, especially in the second half of the track, and that’s where they have the advantage over the Yamaha. His lap times are consistently quick so I think it’s going to be very hard to stop Pedrosa.”

Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo is alongside his rival on the front row. “I think Lorenzo should be on the podium with him and it depends what Stoner and Rossi can bring as to which one of those two can get onto the podium alongside Pedrosa and Lorenzo, but you can’t see a non-Spaniard winning the race tomorrow.”

Gavin fancies the still recovering Valentino Rossi to be able to make a real challenge for the rostrum in his home race. “He looked good today and qualified at the head of the second row so is in a good starting position,” continued Gavin. “If he can get away well he will be there or thereabouts. He didn’t drop off at the end in Indianapolis, he was at quite a steady pace so he seems to almost be there. If he can get tucked in behind, as we’ve seen the Yamahas seem to be struggling in the latter half of the lap, but they’re strong in the first part so if he gets a good start… It’s his home race and he has a lot of fans here and that means so much to him.”

You can test your own expertise against that of Gav’s by playing the Official Fantasy MotoGP 2010 game. Submit your predictions for Sunday now and be in with a chance of winning some great prizes!