Marquez in unfamiliar position after struggling with Honda setup
MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez sacrificed qualifying at Misano in a bid to maximize his chances of a 12th win this season in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix.
Marquez qualified fourth fastest, his first time off the front row this season, as he searched for a comfortable race setup for his Repsol Honda RC213V. Apart from one qualifying run Marquez used the final 15 minute shootout to evaluate setup options for the 28-lap race.
Dry weather track time had been at a premium following heavy showers during Friday's opening practice sessions at the Misano circuit.
Marquez was missing crucial front end feel that he knows will be essential if he is try win against the smooth-handling Yamahas of pole-sitter Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.
"I sacrificed the qualifying to understand things for the race and we will try one more option in the warmup," Marquez. said. "I may be on the second row but I am only one tenth slower than Lorenzo so I am close to the Yamaha riders. They are strong at the moment but tomorrow I hope to be one step in front.
"I was missing front confidence. The problem is that with my pace now to do one lap it is OK, but for endurance I feel a little uncomfortable. So for the race I used the 15 minutes to find some setup information.
"It is difficult to overtake here because it is really narrow. I'm on the second row and my starts are normally not so good so I will try to push in the opening laps."
Marquez said he was unconcerned that young Ducati rider Andrea Iannone had surged on a soft tire in qualifying to grab a spot on the front row with the second fastest time.
"Iannone did a fast time following me but Ducati are not our reference for the race, the Yamaha will be much stronger than them," Marquez said.
If Marquez wins the San Marino GP, he will equal the all-time premier class record of 12 wins in a season set by Australia's Mick Doohan in 1997.
