Valentino Rossi took another small swipe at Marc Marquez after MotoGP qualifying at Sepang today, calling for a straight fight and saying that he hopes everyone rides their own race.

The Doctor, who on Thursday accused Marquez of helping Lorenzo at Phillip Island, squeezed his Movistar Yamaha team-mate on to the second row with his final lap after a very fast sector three time.

“It is time to concentrate on the race for everybody, because it is an important race. I hope that all the riders make his own race, try for his own best result, and we’ll see what happens,” said Rossi, speaking at Sepang.

“The front row is always important. This time maybe it is also a bit more important because I was able to beat Jorge on the last lap with a small distance, but I was able to stay in the front row.

“I’m also happy because we improved a lot the bike, the setting and the pace was not so bad. We have still something to work, still something to make a bit better, but I’m happy because I’m fast and can ride the bike in a good way.

“In the qualifying, the strategy was OK. I try for the three tyres and it work, especially the last lap was a good lap because I was able to ride a bit faster, without make any mistakes and improve a bit the lap time that was crucial for be in the top three.

“But you know third, fourth, fifth doesn’t change a lot and I think tomorrow the race will be very hard for everybody, in general, and also the fight with Jorge because anyway also he has a good pace.

“It‘s just the practice, so nothing is done, but it‘s a very important first row. On the last lap I was able to improve my lap time a little bit and overtake Jorge. Starting from the first row will be very important, but winning the race is always difficult. Here with the heat and the tyres the race is even tougher.

“Anything can happen, but we are on the front row and this is important. Sepang is one of the toughest Grand Prix because it‘s very hot, but a lot of qualifying sessions have been more difficult than today‘s has been for me, because today I was competitive and I enjoyed it.”

“I arrived at the qualifying ready with a good setting and pace, so I was able to push and already on the second tyre I was able to put in a 1‘59s. I knew that I was able to do this, it was the target, but I was hoping for something a little bit more and on the last lap I was able to deliver thanks to good concentration and good grip from the bike, so I‘m happy.

“Starting from the front row is always important, but here it‘s a bit more important because I beat Jorge, but the race happens tomorrow and it will be difficult for everybody. We will try to be ready.”