Andrea Doviziosoꦇ was “pretty happy” to secure a place at the front of the second row for Sunday’s MotoGP outing at Brno after opting out of a slick tyre risk when rain was falling, and sees himself as one of four challengers for victory on Sunday.

The wily Italian felt it🍌 was “easier to make a bad qualifying than a good” one in mixed conditions which required bravery and maximum skill. Even if his efforts were overshadowed by the exploits of Marc Mar🐼quez, his late lap on wet tyres that guaranteed fourth place was a solid result.

“[Running slickꦅs] Was an option but I didn’t take it,” Dovizioso said. “The risk was big. Nothing happened but it was much easier to make a mistake than a good lap time. I just can say congratulations to Marc and Jack because they did a good lap time.

“But in that situation still the rain tyres worked. I did fourth so I’m pretty happy about this position. In these condꦓitions it’s easier to make a badꦓ qualifying than a good qualifying. I was struggling a little bit in half and half conditions. In free practice we did it like this.

“F🌱ortunately in FP4 we found rain and I was happy. I think to♌morrow there is the warm-up to have some other feedback from yesterday. I think in the race we will start from yesterday. We will try the tyres in the right way. I think it’s not easy to make the right choice, especially on the rear.

“We will see tomorrow the choice of everybody.”

After losing a day to the weather,ꦫ who does Dovizioso foresee as the men to beat on Sunday, a day which is forecast to be dry?

“I don’t know. Marc. He was fast yesterday. I think me and Marc have a good situation.🅷 Also Maverick [Viñales]. [Alex] Rins. I think they did the practice in the different way so I don’t know about the feeling they had and the choice of the rear tyre a🐼nd the consistency. I can’t know that.

🧸“But I think these three or fo♔ur riders will be going to sleep tonight a bit more relaxed.”

Dovizioso was also asked for his opinion on✅ Marquez’s on-track exploits, which drew criticism on Saturday f🍃rom Rins.

“I didn’t see the praꦍctice. I just saw what happened in pit lane because I was behind. I think this is Marc. In this moment he’s the champion and his style, his cha✅racter is to show every time he is the best.

“If anybody tries to answer in that he answers immediately.💧 I think this is what happened. But I didn’t see who made something too aggressive or noဣt.”