Ducati's Valentino Rossi will play the waiting game in tomorrow's Phillip Island MotoGP encounter as he thinks he will be able to make up positions in the second half after showing good pace on worn tyres.
The Doctor has set some of his best times at around the 18-lap mark on Bridgestone's softer compound rubber which he expects to run at the Australian circuit but says track temperature is going to be key.
"I am able to stay with quite a good pace on the old tyres. I’m pretty consistent. I did a 1'31.7, a decent time, with a tyre that had about eighteen laps on it, which is important for the race of tomorrow," said Rossi, speaking after qualifying.
"After half race, everybody will have to fight with the spin and it looks like we are not so bad so we can keep a good pace in the second part of the race and try to achieve some position.
"We have a little too much vibration and understeer with the soft tyre, so I wasn’t able to improve much with it, although fortunately, it was just enough to make the third row.
"After I put the new tyre, yes I have more traction on the exit of the corner but I have more oversteer and I am able to do just that time. During the practice we try to work on the rear suspension for the balance of the bike for try to improve but we don't find nothing."
