Luca Marini explains where Honda team-mate Joan Mir is “doing an amazing job” in MotoGP qualifying: “I would like to make some easier races!"
Delivering his best performances of the MotoGP weekend on Sundays has helped Luca Marini climb to tenth and the leading Honda rider in the world championship standings.
But his life would be a lot easier if he could qualify better.
The HRC rider has finished in the top ten during five of the last seven grands prix, despite starting from an average grid position of 15th.
Indeed, Marini has qualified inside the top ten only twice so far this season.
“On Sunday, my performance is always the best of the weekend. I'm nearly always the first rider on the Japanese bike,” he said.
“So for Sunday, the potential is there, but if I start every time P15, P16, then everything gets really complicated.
“I would like to make some easier races! Starting from P8, P9 would be fantastic.”
The dilemma, Marini explained, is that attempts to find more grip can make the bike increasingly nervous.
“Every time we try to find more grip, the bike starts to be nervous and I'm losing a lot of time because of the shaking on the exit and the traction control is cutting a lot.
“So we need to always find a balance between this.
“The edge grip is not enough for one lap, but also if you try to find more grip, then when we pick up the bike, it shakes a lot, so it's a little bit difficult.”
Marini also praised team-mate Joan Mir who, despite being only 18th in the World Championship, has qualified close to the top ten at recent rounds.
“Joan is doing an amazing job, because he brakes really hard and deep in these last couple of events, and he's able to make the difference in qualifying compared to me.
“So I can improve on this side, for sure.”