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Rossi satisfied with qualifying, but needs more for podium

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi says there is still work to do if he wants to continue his 100 per cent podium finish streak in the 2015 championship.

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

Yamaha MotoGP

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Rossi, 36, qualified his factory Yamaha fourth, which puts him on the inside of the second row – but behind fellow joint-points leader Jorge Lorenzo, as well as the works Hondas of Marc Marquez, who will start from pole, and Dani Pedrosa, who starts third after Lorenzo.

“I’m quite satisfied because we improved the setting of the bike a lot,” said Rossi of qualifying. “I’m also happy about my pace and my riding, my performance wasn’t so bad.

“Our goal was to start the race from the second row, so fourth place is OK, but we need to continue working to improve some other things for tomorrow. Pedrosa is also strong, so if we want to fight for the podium we have to go a bit faster.

“Reclaiming the lead in the championship is the target, but it‘s going to be difficult because Marc and Jorge are very strong at this track.”

Lorenzo holds upper hand

Lorenzo was 0.228s behind Marquez, but almost half a second clear of Rossi.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to improve so much,” he said, “I’m very happy with second place, this is a very good position. I’m very proud of my two laps.

“Let’s see which small details we can improve for tomorrow to keep a consistent pace.”

Poleman Marquez targets win

With little to lose in the points table, Marquez has targeted winning as many races as possible rather than worrying about closing the gap to the Yamahas.

His Silverstone pole was his sixth of the season, but he remains 52 points in arrears of Lorenzo and Rossi.

“I pushed 100 percent, on the limit,” said reigning champion Marquez. “When I did the first lap I noticed that if put together the perfect lap, maybe I could get very close to 1m59s.

"But I noticed I was right on the limit a couple of times, and especially in the last sector I was missing a little something under braking.

“My confidence was high, but it’s a circuit where I expect Jorge will be really strong, so it should be a great race.”

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