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Rossi: Rules misinterpretation to blame for cancelled times

Valentino Rossi has explained that a misinterpretation of the rules surrounding maximum stint length on the supersoft wet tyre was to blame for his laptimes being cancelled in first practice.

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing, Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jack Miller, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

The Italian rider had set the second quickest time in Friday morning’s session, lapping only 0.041s slower than Cal Crutchlow, before having his fastest run of 11 laps deleted by stewards.

This was because Michelin had mandated a maximum of 10 laps on the supersoft front wet tyre for safety reasons.

Rossi, who therefore ended the day 20th fastest and faces the possible prospect of having to fight through Q1, said he didn’t realise that the 10-lap limit also included his out-lap and in-laps.

“Before the start, I wanted to use the supersoft in front because I know that tyre and I think it is a good tyre for today, because it’s 10 degrees,” said Rossi.

“They say to me ‘you can do a maximum of 10 laps’, and I did nine. The problem is they also counted the out-lap and the in-lap, it became 11. And it f**ked all my run, and I am second-last.

“It’s a shame, because this can be bad for tomorrow if I cannot improve my laptime [in FP3]. I have to do Q1, so we hope that tomorrow is a bit better, also because like this it’s difficult for everybody.”

Rossi added that he didn’t understand why Michelin felt the need to impose such a strict rule on the use of its supersoft wet front tyre.

“For me, it’s very strange because it’s a good tyre for the race,” said the 37-year-old.

“But Michelin is worried because in Brno, this tyre had a problem. At Brno, it was 25 degrees on the ground and the track was coming dry.

“Here is the place for the supersoft front. If not here, you will never use it. In fact, I do my run, set a good laptime, then look at the tyre – it’s [like] new.

“For me, it’s an option also for the race if it stays like this. But Michelin says no, they say to me ’[no more than] 10 laps’.”

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont

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