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British MotoGP: Riders keen for dry race

Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi are hoping for a dry race at the British MotoGP at Silverstone.

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The stereotypically unpredictable British weather was the hot topic at Thursday's news conference ahead of this weekend's MotoGP meet at Silverstone.

Mixed weather, unsurprisingly, is forecast over the weekend, with rain on Saturday and drier, albeit cloudy, conditions on Sunday.

Should the race be completed in dry conditions then reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo will fancy his chances.

Since the race returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2010, Lorenzo has won three times on a dry circuit with championship leader Marc Marquez the only man to have beaten his Spanish compatriot.

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"From the beginning in 2010, I felt very good here," Movistar Yamaha rider Lorenzo said. "Last year in the rain I was fourth - but not so far from the win so it wasn't a bad race.

"Silverstone is a good track for the Yamaha and I think also for my riding style."

Marquez, who is protecting a 53-point lead from Valentino Rossi in the riders' standings, recognises Lorenzo's speed at Silverstone, but is confident of taking victory.

"On this circuit in the dry I feel good, every year I've been competitive," the Repsol Honda rider added. "I know Jorge is fast too but we'll focus on us, in our garage.

"If it's wet, then we'll try and manage how we have in recent races."

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Rossi claimed a superb win 12 months ago in a wet race, but he rejected any notion that he would favour similar conditions this time around.

"Last year the victory was good but it was in the rain, and in the dry Marquez and Lorenzo were faster than me," he added.

"So we need to understand the track and the secrets. In the last years I was quite strong in the wet, but personally - like the majority of the riders - I prefer the dry."

With just seven more races to come and a trip to the famous Misano circuit in San Marino next up after Silverstone, Marquez is aware the season is entering a crucial juncture.

"I feel competitive, so the mentality is the same - push at the maximum and then we will see," he said.

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"We know that now we are in an important part of the season because now is Silverstone, next week Misano, so we will try to keep the same level."

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