Valentino Rossi believes the fight for the win and podium places in tomorrow’s Sepang MotoGP is very open as a lot of competitors have the pace to bag a top-three finish in Malaysia.
The Doctor will start from the top of row two and has team-mate Maverick Vinales alongside him after qualifying today while title fighters Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez are second and seventh respectively.
"It was a good day, because I was always quite competitive from this morning to this afternoon. But is very open - the fight for victory, for the podium - because have a lot, a lot of riders that have the pace for the podium but also for victory.
"I think Pedrosa is always very strong at this race track. But Zarco is very fast and also Dovi has a great pace. So I think the first row start for the victory. But in the second row me, Maverick, Lorenzo and also for sure Marquez can fight. So have a lot of riders that are very strong.
"The choice is open and this time also more than usual because we don't have a clear idea about the front tyre [as well as the rear]. Can be medium or hard and also the combination between the two can make the difference.
"So we have to work and wait tomorrow for the weather conditions. Because it looks like the forecast is worse than today. We hope we can race with the slick and make a dry race. For me sincerely I want to try to make the best race possible and try to arrive on the podium. I know it will be very difficult but we are there and I think that we have to fight very strong, like Phillip Island."
