Andrea Iannone would have reduced his pace in Sunday’s Sepang MotoGP if he had known that Marc Marquez and Cal Crutchlow had crashed out but ended up joining them in the gravel on the same lap.
The Italian has crashed out of four podium positions this season which have cost him a chunk of points added to those he lost after injuring himself in a crash at Misano. Iannone said he was pleased with the way he rode in Malaysia just not with the end result.
"After I ride for more than half the race at the front, I fight Vale, I'm very, very happy because I came back after four races and I was not sure I could do this performance. I came back in the best way, I think,” said Iannone at the track.
"It was possible to arrive in the third position on the podium but I didn't understand that Marc and Cal crashed before me because it's the same lap.
"When I arrive on the straight, if I have on my pitboard 'Cal and Marc out', for sure I reduce my speed. But I crash in the same lap and it was impossible that I understand this.
"For sure, I had a good advantage over Jorge and it was possible to arrive third. In any case, it's very important for me to come back in this way, ride very well for all the weekend in the dry and wet."