MotoGP Sepang: Chatter halts Rossi in second session

Sepang is one of the season’s most demanding circuits, but is also Rossi’s favourite track as the Yamaha racer has won six times here in the premier class. Temperatures can soar well above 30 degrees Celsius at the circuit, which lies outside Kuala Lumpur and is one of the longest in the season.

“The event needs to go on because it involves points to decide the overall champion and Sepang will be hosting the penultimate race of the season”.

Rossi sent shockwaves around Thursday’s Malaysian MotoGP press conference by suggesting that the Spaniard was attempting to help his compatriot Jorge Lorenzo prevent him landing a tenth world title. This time was less than half a second off Marc Marquez’s 2014 Pole Record (1’59.791) as the riders hit the ground running at Sepang due to the fact all of the teams get to test at the circuit during preseason. The Sepang circuit is a vastly different circuit from Phillip Island, but like the venue for last week’s round, its layout and climatic conditions create a tough challenge for the riders, their bikes and tires.

QMMF Racing Team rider Mika Kallio started the Malaysian Grand Prix with a bang, pushing his Speed Up bike to fourth position in the first free practice session yesterday.

“The morning session was especially positive for us”. This afternoon it was very hot. It seems that the grip is still not the best, as happened a year ago, but we are working hard and I think that we will gradually improve. But he could win it this weekend in Sepang if he finishes in the top five or ahead of his closest rival, Miguel Oliviera.

In real time, Kent’s second accident looked frightful, and could easily have ended his season.

And then there’s Marc Marquez.

Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi posted the fifth-fastest time of the combined practice sessions in Malaysia.

Kent, who has crashed out in two of the last three races, has a chance to win the Moto3 world crown if results go his way on Sunday. His lap from the morning was still good enough for fifth on the sheets.

“We can see the track very well and for us it doesn’t make a difference and on the track visibility is fine”, he said.

Such is the nature of the racing in Moto3 that nothing can be taken for granted.