This is one of those weekends when no-one really has any idea what is going to happen. It does look like the Hondas are having problems, but Pedrosa has looked stealthily rapid all weekend. Marquez looks like Marquez, that is on the edge of disaster most of the time but lap times are variable and he’s had a crash and a few mega-moments. It is all a little reminiscent of Le Mans. Over at Yamaha they are first and second but no one, with the possible exception of the man himself, knows if Valentino Rossi can go race distance. However, he is obviously getting better every day and is surely due a win after last year’s blow up.
Mind you, so are Ducati. Dovi has been quick every session and Petrucci would have been on the front row but for a bit of course-cutting that got his quick lap deleted. Aprilia have looked good, KTM are making progress with a new chassis; it’s really only Suzuki who look a bit lost.
Conditions will be hot, as they’ve been all weekend, which means the track may again be getting greasy by the time the lights go out. But for the first time all year the grid has had consistent conditions to work with so I should also mention Jorge Lorenzo who has been able to export that platform for the first time on a Ducati. He looked like he might qualify much better but Marquez followed him out of the pits and Jorge was unable to ignore the distraction.
On reflection, I think Jorge might have something in hand. Mind you, so has Vale. And betting against Marc is never a good idea. No, I still don’t know what’s going to happen. But i do know it’s Mugello so it is going to be glorious.
