Marco Simoncelli believes maiden MotoGP podium is close

Marco Simoncelli believes his maiden MotoGP podium and victory is getting ever closer as he looks to bounce back to form in Le Mans this weekend.

The Italian is looking to end a disastrous recent run in France on Sunday having crashed out of the lead in the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez last month.

And having claimed only his second MotoGP front row start in Portugal recently, the San Carlo Gresini Honda rider blew a golden chance to fight for victory when he crashed out on the first lap of the Estoril race.

But the former 250GP world champion is confident he can end his podium drought in MotoGP and he told MCN: “For me now we are working in a very good way. I’ve improved since the beginning of the year, also with the set-up of the bike.”

“Each time I go a little bit better and for me if we continue to work in this way we can soon have some good results like a podium or a victory. I have to learn from my mistakes and make sure that I don’t make anymore.”

Simoncelli got a confidence boost immediately after his Estoril failure when he topped the timesheets at the end of a one-day at the Portuguese venue.

But it was a bittersweet moment for the 25-year-old, who has come under fire recently for his aggressive riding tactics and had a public bust-up with reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo in Portugal.

He added: “I am happy about the performance of the test but I am more angry for the mistake in the race. I understand once again that I could have had a great race. Instead I do nothing because of the crash.”