Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean. MotoGP: Valentino Rossi: Espargaro is the race favourite
Movistar Yamaha's Valentino Rossi says Open class rider Aleix Espargaro is favourite to win the opening round of the MotoGP World Champi...
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Movistar Yamaha's Valentino Rossi says Open class rider Aleix Espargaro is favourite to win the opening round of the MotoGP World Championship.
Movistar Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has declared Open class sensation Aleix Espargaro as the race favourite for Sunday's opening round of the MotoGP World Championship in Qatar.
Espargaro has headed the times under the floodlights in all three free practice session at the Losail circuit on the Open Forward Yamaha and Rossi has believes the Spaniard – whose highest MotoGP finish to date is sixth – is the man to beat.
“A lot of riders are on the same pace though; we are very, very close. Espargaro remains one step ahead and also with race pace he is very fast,” said Rossi.
“I think on Sunday we will all use the same tyre, Open Class and Factory but he remains the favourite for the race.
“The bigger problem for us is the new tyre from Bridgestone that provides a lot less grip on the edge of our bike so it's difficult. I'm just tenth which is the minimum target, to stay in the top ten,” added the nine-time world champion.
“The target is to try to start more in front in the race because it's very difficult to overtake so tomorrow in the qualifying I have to go faster.”
Rossi was ninth fastest on the factory YZR-M1, 0.929s behind Espargaro, and faced a nervous wait before sealing the final top ten place on the combined times to progress to Saturday's Qualifying 1.
The Italian's team-mate, Jorge Lorenzo, was seventh quickest and also continues to battle grip issues on the M1, setting a fastest lap of 1m 55.495s to end FP3 0.722s off the top.
Movistar Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has declared Open class sensation Aleix Espargaro as the race favourite for Sunday's opening round of the MotoGP World Championship in Qatar.
Espargaro has headed the times under the floodlights in all three free practice session at the Losail circuit on the Open Forward Yamaha and Rossi has believes the Spaniard – whose highest MotoGP finish to date is sixth – is the man to beat.
“A lot of riders are on the same pace though; we are very, very close. Espargaro remains one step ahead and also with race pace he is very fast,” said Rossi.
“I think on Sunday we will all use the same tyre, Open Class and Factory but he remains the favourite for the race.
“The bigger problem for us is the new tyre from Bridgestone that provides a lot less grip on the edge of our bike so it's difficult. I'm just tenth which is the minimum target, to stay in the top ten,” added the nine-time world champion.
“The target is to try to start more in front in the race because it's very difficult to overtake so tomorrow in the qualifying I have to go faster.”
Rossi was ninth fastest on the factory YZR-M1, 0.929s behind Espargaro, and faced a nervous wait before sealing the final top ten place on the combined times to progress to Saturday's Qualifying 1.
The Italian's team-mate, Jorge Lorenzo, was seventh quickest and also continues to battle grip issues on the M1, setting a fastest lap of 1m 55.495s to end FP3 0.722s off the top.
