San Carlo Honda's Marco Simoncelli is now under less pressure to perform after securing his first MotoGP podium at yesterday's Brno round and now thinks he is in a better position to bargain with Honda for next season.

Simoncelli rode a mature race to pick his way through the pack after a bad start, put a clean pass on 2011 nemesis Jorge Lorenzo but then settled down to follow Andrea Dovizioso home, not wanting to 'do shit' - meaning to not make another error and crash. He hasn't yet beaten Dovizioso, a compatriot against whom he has been riding since they were kids.

"A good result is a good point to speak for the future. Sure, Honda knows my speed and I have a high potential but the results until this moment are not so good. Now I understand I can fight in a race with these riders and now I can race with a little bit less pressure," said Simoncelli.

"I started very aggressive to recover some position as I started very bad. In the last part I try to stay cool and be careful not do shit (mistake) because for me the result is very important. Maybe I could have pushed a little more to follow Andrea but today the podium was enough.

"I am more happy if we beat Andrea as we fight from the mini-bikes and we have a great rivalry but this year he is very consistent during the race. Maybe I am faster in qualifying but he is consistent. I need to work to be more consistent. In the last five laps I thought I could be a little bit faster but after he pushed I lost a little bit but I looked and Lorenzo was one second back so I try to maintain the gap."