MotoGP Le Mans, Rossi: I want to ride a good race for Nicky.

The French air is good for the Yamahas that, after the disaster in Jerez, puffed out their chests in Le Mans, taking the entire front row. Viñales, Rossi and Zarco were the wonder trio in qualifying, but in FP4 the three also showed that they had the best pace.

“Logically, I am satisfied with the front row. We worked well and it seems like the M1 likes both this track and this asphalt”, Valentino smiles.

No regrets for not being on pole?
“When you get so close it is always a pity. If Miller had been 50 yards farther ahead I could have done it. That’s the way it went, but more than the position, the feelings I had in the saddle are important.”

You are in a good position to defend the championship lead.
“Leading the standings is important, but right now I need to think corner by corner rather than about championship points. In any case, the most important thing is something else: riding a good race and dedicating it to Nicky and his family. Unfortunately, that is the only thing that we can do for him.”

How difficult is it to race with certain thoughts?
“They are always in your mind. As I said, we cannot do any more than ride a good race, although that is unfortunately not much for him.”

You will also have a golden opportunity for redemption after the black weekend in Jerez…
“I am pleased with the work we have done, but it is only Saturday. I was fast both in terms of pace and on my flying lap, but tomorrow we will need to see what pace the Ducatis and especially the Hondas have, including Pedrosa even if he is starting from behind.”

Other doubts?
“The rear tyre choice. In theory all the option could be used in the race.”

The battle between Yamahas also seems tight…
“Today we were really fast, with Maverick the fastest, followed by me and then Johann.”

Zarco has proven to be aggressive in the last few races…
“Like many other riders, but the real problem is that he has the pace to contend for the podium, maybe even the win. Johann was a big surprise, not because we didn’t know that he was fast, but because he exceeded all expectations.”

Yesterday in front of the fans he said that you are like a god and that he would like to take your place...
“Thanks (he laughs) but I have a contract for next year too and then I’ll decide my future. He’ll have to wait.”

Changing the subject, yesterday in Safety Commission the decision was made to go back to the 2016 front tyre…
“As I said, there is not a big difference between it and the new one. It also depends a lot on riding style. In any case, at Mugello the soft compound 2017 would certainly have been usable.”

There was a bit of an argument between Lorenzo and Miller in that meeting. Jack apparently told Jorge that ‘opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one, so keep yours to yourself.”
“That remark slipped out. Maybe it’s an Australian saying (he laughs) I don’t think it was particularly harsh. Anyway, it went well for Jack today with his accident. He was very lucky.”

Source: http://gpone.com

QP:

1. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 31.994s [Lap 7/8] 303km/h (Top Speed) 
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 32.100s +0.106s [8/8] 302km/h 

3. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 32.229s +0.235s [6/6] 300km/h 
4. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 32.300s +0.306s [8/8] 303km/h 
5. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 32.493s +0.499s [8/9] 301km/h 
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 32.726s +0.732s [7/7] 308km/h 
7. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.119s +1.125s [3/7] 307km/h 
8. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 33.399s +1.405s [7/7] 302km/h 
9. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 33.517s +1.523s [8/8] 304km/h 
10. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 33.629s +1.635s [4/9] 296km/h 
11. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 33.756s +1.762s [3/5] 299km/h 
12. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 33.955s +1.961s [3/5] 299km/h 

13. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 32.415s 305km/h
14. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 32.484s 306km/h
15. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 32.695s 302km/h
16. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 32.830s 305km/h
17. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 32.844s 304km/h
18. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 33.187s 301km/h
19. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.231s 303km/h
20. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.233s 311km/h
21. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 33.817s 297km/h
22. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 33.875s 303km/h
23. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 34.082s 304km/h

FP4:

1. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 32.906s [Lap 16/17] 303km/h (Top Speed) 
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 32.963s +0.057s [17/17] 307km/h 
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 33.052s +0.146s [15/16] 300km/h 
4. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 33.286s +0.380s [17/19] 302km/h 
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 33.361s +0.455s [9/16] 304km/h 
6. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.388s +0.482s [13/15] 304km/h 
7. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 33.438s +0.532s [13/13] 304km/h 
8. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.479s +0.573s [14/14] 304km/h 
9. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 33.553s +0.647s [10/12] 301km/h 
10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.587s +0.681s [8/9] 307km/h 
11. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.639s +0.733s [11/12] 304km/h 
12. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 33.907s +1.001s [13/14] 306km/h 
13. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 33.959s +1.053s [9/10] 303km/h 
14. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 33.976s +1.070s [16/17] 312km/h 
15. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 34.152s +1.246s [13/15] 307km/h 
16. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 34.270s +1.364s [6/8] 299km/h 
17. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 34.272s +1.366s [15/16] 301km/h 
18. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 34.344s +1.438s [12/12] 306km/h 
19. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.396s +1.490s [5/9] 297km/h 
20. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.594s +1.688s [14/15] 303km/h 
21. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 34.764s +1.858s [12/13] 301km/h 
22. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 34.927s +2.021s [3/5] 301km/h 
23. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 35.183s +2.277s [8/16] 304km/h 

FP3:

1. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 35.674s [Lap 18/18] 303km/h (Top Speed) 
2. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 36.035s +0.361s [12/12] 299km/h 
3. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 36.122s +0.448s [9/10] 291km/h 
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 36.185s +0.511s [22/22] 297km/h 
5. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 36.354s +0.680s [16/16] 294km/h 
6. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 36.497s +0.823s [13/13] 297km/h 
7. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 36.612s +0.938s [17/17] 304km/h 
8. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 36.616s +0.942s [15/15] 298km/h 
9. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 36.752s +1.078s [16/17] 292km/h 
10. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 36.805s +1.131s [15/15] 295km/h 
11. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 36.821s +1.147s [21/21] 301km/h 
12. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 36.823s +1.149s [18/18] 301km/h 
13. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 36.839s +1.165s [16/16] 294km/h 
14. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 36.873s +1.199s [18/18] 299km/h 
15. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 37.464s +1.790s [18/18] 297km/h 
16. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 37.610s +1.936s [13/13] 299km/h 
17. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 37.772s +2.098s [18/18] 296km/h 
18. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 38.888s +3.214s [20/22] 294km/h 
19. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 38.931s +3.257s [15/15] 300km/h 
20. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 39.730s +4.056s [9/9] 292km/h 
21. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.373s +4.699s [19/19] 302km/h 
22. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 41.354s +5.680s [7/17] 289km/h 
23. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 41.608s +5.934s [9/20] 291km/h