Marc Marquez has revealed there was no way he was going to risk another yellow flag crash, and instead opted to lose his chance at pole at Motegi.
The Repsol Honda rider had already messed up his first run at a hot lap in the closing minutes of qualifying at the Japanese track, but decided to play it safe rather than risk another crash.
Marquez had been on his last chance to secure pole ahead of tomorrow’s MotoGP race when he spotted yellow flags to deal with the aftermath of a Cal Crutchlow crash at Turn Five.
“After experience of 2013 in Silverstone, any time I see a yellow flag I slow down,” he said. “I know it was the last lap of the qualifying and I was thinking to push but I saw many people there and also Cal.
“It was too much risk and I lost the lap but I prefer this than have a crash and be like Silverstone.”
Despite missing out on a shot at pole, the championship leader is confident he can win from second on the grid tomorrow.
“Race pace is when I felt slightly better, it looks like with a new tyre I struggle a little bit to find the feeling on the brake point but then when the tyre drops a little bit I am able to manage better the limits,” he added.
“We will see tomorrow how is the weather and with higher temperature it looks like Yamaha is stronger or closer but I feel okay.
“Of course it is nicer to be in the position of Valentino but we are on the front row and that was the main target.”