Valentino Rossi entered the Q2 battle for the second time in 2021 with qualifying for the CatalanGP producing an 11th place grid start at Barcelona today.

The Italian believes he had potential for more after successfully solving the issues plaguing his Petronas M1 on Friday but a turn four crash scuppered his plans.

“Today, for me, is a lot better, because from this morning we modify the bike and I had a lot better feeling entering the corner, turning the bike,” Rossi explained.

“Already from FP3 I improved a lot my pace and at the end I was able to stay in the Q2, so was a top-10. FP4 was a good practice because we tried the hard tyre, we made another step with the setting of the bike and my pace was not so bad that at the end I finished seventh. For the Q2, unfortunately with the first tyre I crash, and afterwards it was difficult because I had to jump on the other bike, so at the end I finished P11. I think that I have a bit more potential but it is like this. We wait for tomorrow to understand the weather because we hope that the weather resist and remain dry also tonight, so tomorrow is still open, the choice of the rear tyre between medium and hard, but we will see.

“I like the circuit here in Barcelona. I ride quite well but we have also improved the setting of the bike. I think that we did a mistake on Friday, we follow a wrong way but you know, these are things that happen all the weekend to more or less all the riders. The problem is that when this happens to me you hear ‘Rossi’s too old and you have to stop!’ after one bad practice. It’s normal, to work and try a wrong way, but I’m very, very happy with the feeling that I have today because I was not so bad on the track and I enjoy!”

Reflecting on Sunday’s 24-lap race, the Italian remains unsure of the correct Michelin choice but is aware of the tracks biggest consideration.

“It’s true that degradation is a big issue for everybody and it will be very important to understand the right conditions and the right choice, especially for the rear tyre but also for the front. I think that anyway it will be a sprint race from the first lap, the first corner. In the first two or three laps, you already decide 85% of the MotoGP race, and after, start another longer phase where you have to decide the other 15%. I think that it will be like this also tomorrow - everybody pushing a lot from the beginning.”

Rossi’s direct promotion to Q2 at the end of FP3 was met with raucous applause as he returned to the pit-box, posing questions over the pressure being felt inside the garage. The Italian believes it is less about pressure and more about a genuine reflection of the team’s overall belief in his potential.

“I’m very happy with the behaviour of the team, of the atmosphere in the pit, because I have genuine support, and all the guys understand these challenges, that it is difficult. Everybody is very, very sad when my performance is bad, like on Friday, when I was P18 and my pace was very bad. They know that we need the good result - we can do some good races and we can enjoy but we need to be strong and my box, and also all the guys of the team, support me very, very much so it was funny today. Q2 for us at this moment is a good result. I don’t think that the team have a lot of pressure I think that they want to arrive in front, like normal, I don’t feel a particular pressure, more a genuine support. This morning I was P10 and less than half a second [from first], so everybody is there!”