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MotoGP Brno: Rossi brands 15-minute qualifying 'unfair'

Factory Yamaha's Valentino Rossi slumped to a third-row grid slot for tomorrow's Brno MotoGP race and branded the 15-minute dash introduced this year unfair as he feels it is a 'right-place, right-time' system.

The nine-time world champion has fallen foul of it at almost every race this year and says that riders are spending too much time either finding a tow or trying to lose a tow from those who haven't been so fast in free practice - a veiled reference to Alvaro Bautista's caravan antics behind Marc Marquez to grab a front-row start.

"This type of practice, with 15 minutes, is not very fair. A lot of riders are able to take the right slipstream and improve a lot the laptime and improve a lot also the position they have usually in practice," said The Doctor, speaking at Brno.

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"So is not just about the potential but also about being in the right place at the right moment and make a good lap with the guy in front. Unfortunately, we lose time with Marquez and Bradl because no-one want to go in front.

"I don't want to go in front, Marquez don't want to go in front, Bradl waiting for us. In fact, also I think Marquez don't use the second part as he make a mistake after. It is a pity but you have to be in the right place."

Britain's Cal Crutchlow would like to see a one-lap dash in the mode of the old World Superbike system but is pragmatic when it comes to having slower riders following.

"It's part of the game of racing motorcycles. In a race you have to follow people. You can't necessarily be angry if you get followed in qualifying but I hate it. I have one of things where I like to do my lap alone.

"If you saw the start of the second tyre, they were all waiting and I had to go as I couldn't get any heat in my tyre. I had to push and Alvaro tried to follow me again and then I told him to go away.

"Then, when he was looking behind him, I accelerated so fast I got a couple of seconds on him. One lap is what I want, whcih would stop all this stuff. I would prefer 12 minutes because that would put everyone on the limit then."

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