Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) starts from his first front row of the season after qualifying at the Americas GP, with a final flier moving him up to P3 behind teammate Maverick Viñales and polesitter Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Feeling better on the bike and ready to try and follow the two frontrunners, Rossi will also have a keen eye on those coming from Row 2 – with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) looming large in the mirrors.
Valentino Rossi, P3: “It’s very important to be on the front row because it’s the first real qualifying of the season so it’s important to understand our potential in fifteen minutes. I feel good with the bike and we were able to improve. I knew if I had a clear lap I could get a good position but there was a lot of traffic and it was difficult to make strategies because there wasn’t enough time. So I was lucky to get through before the flag, and the last lap was good. It’s important to start on the front row, and I’ll try to stay close to Marquez and Viñales, but also look behind because Zarco and Pedrosa have very good pace – so I think it will be a big fight for the podium.”