Repsol Honda Team riders monopolize the first two positions on the grid at Sepang, with a circuit record for Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez taking the second best time.
Dani Pedrosa put on a masterclass on the second day of practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix, obtaining his first pole position of the season and shattering the Sepang circuit record. The Repsol Honda Team rider will share the front row with his teammate, Marc Marquez, who was second, confirming the excellent level shown by both over the last two races.
Pedrosa, who won in Japan two weeks ago, again showed the competitiveness he had exhibited yesterday. After going third in FP3 and leading FP4, in the qualifying session he was impossible to match. He was the last rider to leave the pits and, on his first flying lap, stopped the clock at 1:59.053 –more than seven tenths faster than the previous record from practice sessions.
His teammate, the race winner last Sunday, followed a different strategy and used three different rear tires. Marquez left the pits first and, until Pedrosa overtook him, was provisionally on pole. A scare on his second flying lap prevented him from improving and, after riding with his third and final soft tire, the reigning World Champion set a 1:59.462 lap.
With the grid decided, the penultimate race of the MotoGP season will be held tomorrow at 3pm local time –8am CET.
Con la parrilla definida, la penúltima carrera de MotoGP será mañana a las 15:00h –las 8:00h hora peninsular española–.
Marc Márquez>>AUDIO>>
-2nd,1:59.462,30laps,200km
“Dani did a great lap, which was difficult to beat! We will try to give 100% from the start of the race, which I think will be tough physically, but I think we are good in terms of our race pace. I am finding things harder with fresh tyres here – compared to other circuits – especially the front and that was seen when I came close to crashing! We have been doing quite well during the weekend; we’re not totally comfortable but we’re handling the situation well and finding our race pace.”
Dani Pedrosa>>AUDIO>>
-1ºst,1:59.053,38laps,211km
“The team did a great job! We will have to concentrate a lot in the race, because the tyres are suffering at this track so there is the possibility of making mistakes, and we must be attentive on every lap. I will try to ride as best I can, but I’m sure that the bike and tyres will have a tough time. We will have to see how the track is tomorrow, because with so much heat we might not have as much grip as now; we will have to feel it out on the first few laps.”
