World Champion keeps streak alive and takes another pole position. Pedrosa improves feeling and –after dominating both free practice sessions today– will head the second row in fourth place.
The Italian Grand Prix, round six of the MotoGP World Championship, will have the same rider starting from pole as at each of the preceding six events. With the fastest time in qualifying this Saturday at Mugello, Marquez extended a streak of pole positions that stretches back to the the final race of 2013. The Repsol Honda rider was back at the head of the timesheet after his teammate was fastest in both practice sessions beforehand. Dani Pedrosa will take off from fourth, leading off the second row.
After rain interrupted Friday’s plans, clear skies on Saturday allowed the riders to maximise their practice time at Mugello. The Repsol Honda Team enjoyed the conditions, with Pedrosa the best rider in both Free Practice sessions after greatly improving his feeling with his bike.
As at the previous five races in 2014, it was Marquez who was unstoppable in qualifying. On his third lap he stopped the clock at 1’47.270, and no other rider was able to match him thereafter. Pedrosa ended the day 0.314s off his teammate and 0.063s off the front row, placing fourth with a 1’47.584 lap.
Marquez and Pedrosa will be in action at 2pm local time at the Italian Grand Prix tomorrow.
Marc Marquez >> Audio
1st, 1:47.270, 40 laps, 210 km
“I’m very happy to have taken this pole position at a track that I found very difficult last year. I’ve felt good on the bike right from the opening practice session this time around, and this shows that we are working well this season –because in 2013 it was much harder to be up at the front. As for the race, it will be difficult to break away and do what I’ve been doing up to now, because at this track you tend to ride in a group and things are more tightly packed. However, I will try to give 100% in order to fight for the victory”.
Dani Pedrosa >> Audio
4th, 1:47.584, 39 laps, 205 km
“Today qualifying went better than in Le Mans, and we had good sessions –especially in FP4. I think that the bike was working fairly well, although when we put on the second tyre option in qualifying I made a small mistake –which I didn’t realise until afterwards– and I touched the engine mapping button which lowered my power and I wasn’t able to improve my time. Tomorrow we will try to start well and have a good race, it seems that the pace of the other riders is very evenly matched, but we will do all that we can”.
