Valentino Rossi to launch 'VR46' Moto3 team in 2014

Please Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on twitter...

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Valentino Rossi to start 'VR46' Moto3 team with sponsorship from Sky Italia, running KTM machinery and Romano Fenati as one of the riders.

Valentino Rossi-backed Moto3 team now confirmed as having filed an entry for the 2014 World Championship.

Valentino Rossi is to start a Moto3 team, running Romano Fenati and possibly half-brother Luca Marini on KTM machinery in 2014.

Rumours that Rossi would become involved in a Moto3 team have been circling for months.

But in August the seven time MotoGP champion insisted the plan was just to start a 'VR46 Riders Academy', to help support young Italian racers, rather than an actual team.

However Italy's SportMediaset reports that the Italian Federation will no longer field the San Carlo-backed Team Italia squad next year, leaving 2012 race winner Fenati in need of a team.

Italy's Sky TV will sponsor the new VR46 project, while KTM machines are also confirmed - and an obvious choice, having won every Moto3 grand prix so far this year.

"We have joined forces with Sky in order to give the Italian riders the opportunity to be competitive and reach the highest levels," said Rossi.

The identity of Fenati's team-mate is not yet known, but Rossi's half-brother Marini is unsurprisingly being tipped as a possibility. Marini - currently second in the Italian Moto3 championship - made his grand prix debut as a wild-card last time at Misano, but fell at the first turn.

Teams wishing to enter next year's Moto2 or Moto3 World Championships submitted their requests at the San Marino Grand Prix. Further details on the 2014 entries will be made available after the next selection meeting at the Malaysian Grand Prix, in October.

However the official MotoGP website has confirmed that the new VR46/Sky team "has already forwarded an official entry application to MotoGP governing body the FIM and commercial rights holder Dorna Sports in order to participate in the Moto3 class."

Original post found on: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/196127/1/valentino-rossi-to-launch-vr46-moto3-team-in-2014.html

Galbusera named as Rossi crew chief

Please Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on twitter...

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Silvano Galbusera has been named as Valentino Rossi's new crew chief, following the Italian's decision to part ways with Jeremy Burgess after a 14-year partnership.

Galbusera began his career with Gilera back in 1979, spending 14 seasons working on a series of road and off-road projects. He moved to Cagiva in 1994, taking on the challenge of the 500cc championship, before landing a technical role at Yamaha.

During his time with the Japanese manufacturer, he has worked as a Crew Chief and Technical Director in the World Superbike and World Supersport categories, guiding Ben Spies to the Superbike title in 2009. And after a two-year spell at BMW, working for Italy's Marco Melandri, he has been given the chance to work in the top echelon.

"I'd like to thank Yamaha and Valentino for this great opportunity to work close to such a multi titled, high level champion," said Galbusera. "I'm happy to be back in the family and to have an opportunity in such a successful team that is always at the top."

Original Post found on: http://www.gpupdate.net/en/motogp-news/303083/galbusera-named-as-rossi-crew-chief/

Valentino Rossi Rides The Yamaha

Please Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on twitter...

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Valentino Rossi had his first laps on the factory Yamaha today at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain, with the first official test of the year for the MotoGP men hampered by wet conditions. And Yamaha has just announced they are packing up and heading to Motorland Circuit in Aragon, Spain, in search of better weather. They will test there tomorrow.

With lap times mostly meaningless, Rossi's best thus far is a 1:43.736, which puts him fifth. The fastest time of the day has been set by Alvaro Bautista, but the Spaniard did his 1:35.936 early when conditions were dry.

Nicky Hayden is seventh with his best lap, like Rossi's, also coming in the wet conditions.

Not everyone has taken to the track with Moto2 World Champion Marc Marquez opting to wait for drier weather before making his debut on the ex-Casey Stoner Honda RC213V. The Honda team has a private test scheduled for later in the month at Sepang in Malaysia. Bradley Smith, the other MotoGP rookie, has also stayed in the garage thus far. Smith will ride the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha vacated by Andrea Dovizisio, the Italian making his factory Ducati debut today.

MotoGP Star of the Year vote - 6th: Valentino Rossi

Please Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on twitter...

Follow @VRTheDoctor

6th – Valentino Rossi 

Average score out of ten: 6.91 

Team: Yamaha Factory Racing 

Bike: YZR-M1 (Factory) 

Wins: 1 

Podiums: 6 

Poles: 0 

Fastest Laps: 1 

Championship points: 237 (13.2 points per start average) 

Championship position: 4th out of 27 

Valentino Rossi's return to Yamaha netted his first MotoGP race victory since 2010 and his highest Crash.net Star of the Year ranking since that same season - but the Italian legend was still voted two places below his championship position.

The only double winner of the Crash.net vote, in 2008 and 2009, Rossi didn't even make the top ten last year, with viewers awarding an average ranking of just 5.11 out of 10 for his final season at Ducati. That improved to 6.91 and sixth place in this year's poll, after a season of highs and lows for the seven time MotoGP champion.

A feisty ride to the podium during the Qatar season opener proved Rossi had lost none of his fighting spirit, but thereafter he often struggled to get on terms with the 'top three'. Indeed, the number four summed up Rossi's season - The Doctor finished in fourth place on no less than eight occasions, on his way to fourth in the world championship.

An emotional victory at Assen - a race you voted as the most entertaining of the season - proved the high point of Rossi's year, while six podiums doubled his total rostrum score at Ducati and the #46 showed he had lost none of his racecraft by regularly thwarting his nearest opponents in final lap battles.

But more ultimate pace was needed and the lowest point arguably came at the Valencia finale, when - even with his race leading team-mate Jorge Lorenzo attempting to slow down the field - Rossi was unable to join the victory fight.

By then, news had already broken that Rossi had decided to split from crew chief Jerry Burgess as the 34-year-old seeks to get on terms with Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa and Lorenzo in 2014.

Never previously beaten by a MotoGP team-mate in the world championship standings, barring his 2010 leg breaking injury, Rossi finished this season 93 points shy of title runner-up Lorenzo.

About the vote:
Over 30,000 votes were cast for the 2013 Crash.net MotoGP Star of the Year poll, where viewers were asked to award each of this year's full-time participants - only Ben Spies and Karel Abraham, injured for large parts of the season, were not included - with a mark out of ten.

The average score for each rider was then used to determine the final ranking, which will be revealed in full once the winner is announced.

Orignal post: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/199155/1/motogp-star-of-the-year-vote-6th.html

Valentino Rossi to launch 'VR46' Moto3 team in 2014

Please Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on twitter...

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Valentino Rossi is to start a Moto3 team, running Romano Fenati and possibly half-brother Luca Marini on KTM machinery in 2014.

Rumours that Rossi would become involved in a Moto3 team have been circling for months.

But in August the seven time MotoGP champion insisted the plan was just to start a 'VR46 Riders Academy', to help support young Italian racers, rather than an actual team.

However Italy's SportMediaset reports that the Italian Federation will no longer field the San Carlo-backed Team Italia squad next year, leaving 2012 race winner Fenati in need of a team.

Italy's Sky TV will sponsor the new VR46 project, while KTM machines are also confirmed - and an obvious choice, having won every Moto3 grand prix so far this year.

"We have joined forces with Sky in order to give the Italian riders the opportunity to be competitive and reach the highest levels," said Rossi.

The identity of Fenati's team-mate is not yet known, but Rossi's half-brother Marini is unsurprisingly being tipped as a possibility. Marini - currently second in the Italian Moto3 championship - made his grand prix debut as a wild-card last time at Misano, but fell at the first turn.

Teams wishing to enter next year's Moto2 or Moto3 World Championships submitted their requests at the San Marino Grand Prix. Further details on the 2014 entries will be made available after the next selection meeting at the Malaysian Grand Prix, in October.

However the official MotoGP website has confirmed that the new VR46/Sky team "has already forwarded an official entry application to MotoGP governing body the FIM and commercial rights holder Dorna Sports in order to participate in the Moto3 class."

ORIGINAL POST found on: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/196127/1/valentino-rossi-to-launch-vr46-moto3-team-in-2014.html

Five-time World Champion Mick Doohan is convinced Valentino Rossi still has a lot to offer in MotoGP.

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Nine-times Champion Rossi is coming off a disappointing 2013 season where he finished third in the standings behind Marc Marques, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa.

While his Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo won eight races despite battling injury midway through the season, the Italian's victory at Assen was his only one of the campaign. It has naturally led to question marks over his future not only at Yamaha, especially with his contract running out at the end of 2014, but also in MotoGP.

Doohan is confident Rossi can return to the front if he gets the right machinery, but he concede that the 34-year-old is probably no longer prepared to push himself too hard.

"He can't like not winning although the sport needs him and he has still got as many fans as ever. The sport will be a poorer place without him. I'm sure fourth is not good enough in Valentino's mind, but it is a hell of a lot better than where he was last year," Doohan told motorcyclenews.com.

"I think his experience is against him in terms of how far he is prepared to push himself and how long he wants to stay in the sport. But you never doubt Valentino. I have no doubt if they could get the bike to exactly his liking he could push more but he knows if he pushes any further he will go down the road.

"Valentino's experience though may mean he is not prepared to push as hard as those top three guys. They are still in the 'want and need' part of their careers rather than in the 'it would be great to do that again' part of their careers."

Opel Adam Designed By Valentino Rossi And Aldo Drudi Now For Sale On eBay

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Last month we introduced you to the funky Opel Adam designed by professional Moto GP rider Valentino Rossi and designer Aldo Drudi which was set to be auctioned off, with all proceeds going towards the Meyers Children’s Hospital Foundation. Now Opel has announced the commencement of the eBay auction for the unique Adam.

The car features a unique exterior livery and reupholstered interior designed by Aldo Drudi. The design takes inspiration from Moto GP race suits and livery’s. Valentino Rossi also adorned the Adam with his own personal touches, including his racing number, 46, which is displayed on the outside and his signature which is written across the hood of the car.

“I am very happy that the car has turned out so well and I hope to be able to participate in further projects: Together we can do a lot to support the children’s hospital foundation Meyer O.N.L.U.S.” says Rossi.

To bid for the special charity Adam, which is being called the “Adam and Vale for Charity”, head over to the eBay ad.

Six races to decide Valentino Rossi's MotoGP future

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Valentino Rossi's performances during the opening six races of next season will be 'crucial' in deciding whether the Italian continues his MotoGP career beyond 2014.

The legendary seven time MotoGP champion claimed a record 80th victory during his return to Yamaha this year, but was left firmly in the wake of Marc Marquez (Honda), Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and Dani Pedrosa (Honda) in the championship standings.

In an extract released by Sportmediaset.it from "The New Age - A year of MotoGP", to be broadcast by the Italy 1 TV channel tonight (Wednesday), Rossi states:

"If I'm here and I want to keep racing, I will have to stay ahead in 2014, closer to the first three. From February to June, the tests and the first six races will be crucial for deciding whether to continue or stop racing in MotoGP at the end of the season. I'd like to continue for another couple of years, but only if they are competitive."

As part of his efforts to bridge the gap to the class leaders, 34-year-old Rossi has split from crew chief Jerry Burgess, a decision he also addresses in the programme. 

Rossi's most recent world title was in 2009, the #46 breaking a leg early in 2010 then making an ill-fated switch to Ducati for 2011.

The sixth race of the 2014 season will be Rossi's home Italian round, at Mugello.

Valentino Rossi runner-up in Monza Rally Show

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

MotoGP star Valentino Rossi got his latest dose of rallying action with a runner-up result in this weekend's Monza Rally Show.

After nine asphalt stages within the confines of the famous Italian circuit, Rossi was classified 10.6s behind Citroen's WRC star Dani Sordo. 

Four-wheel endurance star Rinaldo Capello completed the podium.

Rossi, winner of last year's event, was again at the wheel of a WRC-spec Ford Fiesta with Carlo Cassina as his co-driver.

The seven time MotoGP champion was also second to Sordo in the Master Show knock-out tournament.

"For me this is one of the highlights of the year – I get to race against my friends and there is very little pressure to perform," said Rossi.

"It is a shame that I didn't get the overall wins today but I'm proud of four stage wins which is incredible for me. And I get to see all of the fans from rally and MotoGP which is great. 

"I'm coming back next year!"

Rossi finished fourth in the MotoGP championship during his Yamaha comeback season, including a first race win since 2010. The nine time world champion will continue alongside Jorge Lorenzo in 2014.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
Follow @VRTheDoctor

Valentino Rossi Introduces His Moto3 Team at the Tavullia Ranch

Valentino Rossi has launched his new Moto3 squad, Team Sky-VR46 during an event which took place a his Moto Ranch near his hometown Tavullia.


The 9-time World Champion's Moto3 team is sponsored by SkyTV and has Romano Fenati and Francesco Bagnaia as riders. The team's manager is Vittoriano Guareschi. SkyTV has also bought the TV rights for MotoGP for the next 5 years, so we might get to see the Doctor's team quite a lot...

You can watch track action from the event and even Valentino Rossi taking a fall during the usual friendly races at the Moto Ranch following the link below (requires free registration with motogp.com)
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/valentino-rossi-introduces-his-moto3-team-at-the-tavullia-ranch-72020.html

"Rossi Is Trying to Do What He's No Longer Capable of Doing", Jeremy Burgess

Valentino Rossi's former crew chief Jeremy Burgess has spoken with GP-Inside about the separation between them, announced before the last round of the 2013 MotoGP season. Far from resenting the hiatus, Burgess seems just as committed to Rossi, but speaks openly about how the end of his career is drawing near.

Burgess tells that he knew that Valentino, just like many other sportsmen getting closer to the end of their careers, might try something radical, but still the news was a shock. He remembers tennis player Andre Agassi changing his coach towards the end of his pro career, but failing to find the new drive Rossi seems to be looking for.

However, he says that either way, the future will provide answers: if Rossi gets back to winning on a constant basis, then this will prove that the move was right. If nothing happens, the move simply remains one of the things which had to be tried out.

Burgess only hopes that Rossi will know when it's time to hang his leathers and walk out of MotoGP like one of the greatest champions he is, and most important to literally walk away, unhurt.

Valentino Rossi is a great rider, Burgess says, but even if he claims he can still do what he did 10 or more years ago, it is impossible that he could keep up with the first three, younger riders in MotoGP, Pedrosa, Lorenzo and the new Champion, Marquez.

Rossi and these three are definitely much faster than the rest, but this is not enough, as he is far from the top three. And he's 34 now, no longer a wild child.

Speaking about retirement, Jeremy Burgess concludes: "One must not fear such a decision, because we all know very well that once a journey started, it will come to an end one day."

Follow us on Twitter

Follow @VRTheDoctor

Valentino Rossi Drive the Ford Fiesta RS WRC

The fact that The Doctor is fast even on 4 wheels is not newsworthy. However, going against the likes of Dani Sordo who is a pro rally driver and not making a fool of himself is indeed a thing few others can brag on.

So here are some highlights from Rossi's runs at the Monza rally show. He stepped into a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, and had Carlo Cassina as co-driver.

Rossi finished the Monza Rally Show in the second position overall, having won no less than 4 of the 9 asphalt stages.

And in case you think this was luck, you should also know that Rossi won the last year's edition of the Monza Rally.

Lorenzo, Rossi conclude testing programme

'We worked a lot to try to test some new systems for the fuel consumption and the settings; it has been a good test' - Valentino Rossi

Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi will not participate in the third day of the Valencia MotoGP test after completing their testing schedule today.

Lorenzo set the second fastest time in 1m 30.768s behind new world champion Marc Marquez on the Repsol Honda, who lapped in 1m 30.536s.

Rossi, meanwhile, ended the second day of the three-day test in seventh place on the time sheets behind Bradley Smith on the satellite Yamaha Tech 3 M1, lapping in 1m 31.414s.

The Yamaha pair again tested an early version of the 2014 YZR-M1 and worked on a set-up to reduce fuel consumption ahead of next season's rule changes, which will see a reduction in the fuel allowance for MotoGP races. 

“We tested next year's bike today and we found some positive things. We are trying some small details that will give us some small advantages,” said Lorenzo.

“We will wait for Sepang to have bigger and more important modifications.”

Nine-time world champion Rossi admitted he found the going tougher with the new M1 today as he slipped down the times.

“Today we focused on the new bike and it was a little bit more difficult than yesterday,” he said.

“We worked a lot to try to test some new systems for the fuel consumption and the settings; it has been a good test. 

“At the end the performance wasn't fantastic but we made an important job for winter to arrive competitive next year,” added Rossi.

“During this season I wasn't strong enough in braking so this is the target to improve.”

Lorenzo and Rossi will now take a well-earned break before returning to the track for the first official IRTA test of 2014 in Sepang, Malaysia.

Rossi: "Márquez looks like he's going to win lots of titles"

If Valentino Rossi has a soft spot for any of his fellow riders, it is Marc Márquez. He has even invited the Spanish youngster to practise with him at his private ranch in Italy.

After the Spaniard sealed his first ever MotoGP title, the nine-time world champion discussed the bright future ahead of the 20-year-old. "The sky's the limit for him", Rossi claimed. "He was extremely strong this year and won the title as a rookie, which is no mean feat, even if he did have the best bike", he stated. Nevertheless, the Italian called for people to be patient while the youngster figures out "how much room for improvement he has next year". "If Yamaha improves, Lorenzo will mount a serious challenge in 2014, but Marc has the look of someone who's going to win lots of titles".

Valencia MotoGP test times - Monday

Following Sunday's Valencia MotoGP season finale, an official test session is being held at the circuit from Monday to Wednesday.

The test marked Cal Crutchlow's Ducati debut and Moto2 world champion Pol Espargaro's first ride with Monster Yamaha Tech 3. 

Espargaro's injured title rival Scott Redding - who previously rode some MotoGP test laps for Ducati - was making his official premier-class debut with Gresini and the new 'Open' class Honda Production Racer. 

The RCV1000R was also on track in the hands of Aspar's Hiroshi Aoyama - team-mate and former Ducati starNicky Hayden will wait until Tuesday due to limited machine numbers.

Likewise the new Forward Yamaha - to be ridden by Aleix Espargaro and Colin Edwards - was not ready in time for Monday.

Also absent was newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez, who like Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosatook a well-deserved day off.

But there was no rest at the Factory Yamaha team where both Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were on track, using the present M1 alongside the 2014 prototype. 

Lorenzo, who missed out on the 2013 crown by just four points, lapped comfortably under Pedrosa's new official race lap record to lead day one of the test. Lorenzo and Rossi set their best lap times in the closing minutes.

Rossi was working with his new crew chief Silvano Galbusera for the first time, while former Aprilia Racing boss Gigi Dall'Igna was present in his new role as general manager of Ducati Corse.

The 2014 rules will see the Factory class bikes lose a further litre of race fuel relative to the Open class machines, raising the difference to four litres. The Open bikes must run the full control ECU system, while the Factory entries can use their own software. 

Monday's test took place from 12-5pm, with a full day of testing available on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 31.257s (Lap 46/48)
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 31.350s (41/42)
3. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 1m 31.751s (25/40)
4. Andrea Iannone ITA Energy T.I. Pramac Racing (GP13) 1m 31.925s (46/49)
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 1m 31.943s (30/36)
6. Cal Crutchlow GBR Ducati Team (GP13) 1m 32.054s (36/39)
7. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Team (GP13) 1m 32.698s (26/32)
8. Yonny Hernandez COL Ignite Pramac Racing (GP13) 1m 32.745s (33/37)
9. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Power Electronics Aspar (RCV1000R) 1m 33.020s (38/38)
10. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 33.187s (32/45)
11. Scott Redding GBR Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R) 1m 34.195s (31/34)
12. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART CRT) 1m 34.378s (16/17)
13. Martin Bauer AUT Remus Racing Team (S&B Suter-BMW CRT) 1m 35.115s (22/27)
14. Mike Di Meglio FRA Avintia Racing (FTR-Kawasaki) 1m 36.304s (19/26)

Official Valencia MotoGP records:
Best lap: 
Marc Marquez ESP Honda 1m 30.803s (2013)
Fastest race lap:
Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda1m 31.628s (2013)

Fastest 2013 race laps by manufacturer:
Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda1m 31.628s
Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha 1m 31.701s
Nicky Hayden USA Ducati 1m 32.764s
Aleix Espargaro ESP ART 1m 33.323s
Hector Barbera ESP FTR-Kawasaki 1m 33.551s
Danilo Petrucci ITA Suter-BMW 1m 34.153s
Bryan Staring AUS FTR-Honda 1m 34.815s
Damian Cudlin GBR PBM-ART 1m 35.886s

Silvano Galbusera Is Valentino Rossi's New Crew Chief

Yamaha Racing Team made it official: Silvano Galbusera is the new Crew Chief for Valentino Rossi.

In a rather shocking announcement made by Valentino Rossi last Thurdays, ahead of the last race of the 2013 seasons, the Doctor declared that he and his long-time Crew Chief Jeremy Burgess were no longer to be a team in 2014.

Burgess and Rossi have been together for 14 years, but at the press conference it was unveiled that the Yamaha rider was looking for a different approach and a new motivation for the new season.

Silvano Galbusera has extensive road racing and African Rally experience and has worked with Gilera, Cagiva, Yamaha (1995-2011), with his last two years spent in Marco Melandri's BMW WSBK team. 

Other big names in motorcycle racing include Alessandro Gramigni, Paolo Casoli, John Kocinski and the more recent Troy Corser, Noriyuki Haga, Cal Crutchlow and Ben Spies.

Massimo Meregalli, Team Director for Yamaha tols motogp.com: "It’s nice to welcome Silvano back to the Yamaha family. Having worked with him personally for ten years I have the utmost respect for his skill and technical expertise. 

For sure he will need some time to adjust to MotoGP but I have no doubt that he has the capability to successfully lead Valentino’s crew into and through the 2014 season. It has been a pleasure to work with Jeremy over this last season. On behalf of Yamaha I would like to say we are indebted to him for the huge number of successes and invaluable knowledge he has contributed to Yamaha." 

The same source mentions Galbusera's words: "I’d like to thank Yamaha and Valentino for this great opportunity to work close to such a multi titled, high level champion. I’m happy to be back in the Yamaha family and to have an opportunity in such a successful team that is always at the top."

Motorcycling Grand Prix motogp standings

Nov 10 (Infostrada Sports) - Standings from the Motorcycling Grand Prix MotoGP on Sunday

1. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 334

2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 330

3. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 300

4. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 237

5. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Yamaha 188

6. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Honda 171

7. Stefan Bradl (Germany) Honda 156

8. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati 140

9. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Ducati 126

10. Bradley Smith (Britain) Yamaha 116

11. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Aprilia 93

12. Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati 57

13. Michele Pirro (Italy) Ducati 56

14. Colin Edwards (U.S.) FTR 41

15. Randy de Puniet (France) Aprilia 36

Rossi unable to achieve front row target

'I wanted to try for the front row but in the end I wasn't able to, which was a pity. Starting from the fourth position is not so bad' - Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi missed out on his target of a front row start for the Valencia MotoGP but the nine-time world champion was ultimately satisfied with fourth place on the grid.

Rossi held provisional third for a spell following a lap in 1m 30.920s but was demoted to fourth as Dani Pedrosaeventually completed the front row on the Repsol Honda.

The Factory Yamaha rider, who fastest lap was 0.257s down on Pedrosa, is feeling confident ahead of the final race of the season, even if the Italian legend has concerns over rear tyre choice.

"This morning we made some changes to the set-up of the bike and I was able to improve my pace and be more under control in braking and it was not so bad," said Rossi, who will split from crew chief Jerry Burgess after Sunday's race.

"This afternoon was quite good, for sure the target is to start on the front row, but fourth is a good place to start for the race and I think that I can do a bit better. 

"I had some traffic with some people waiting and I lost one lap. But my laptime was good and for sure I am quite fast but the first three are very strong. 

"We need to make some improvements for the setting and the rear tyre choice will be very important. We need to decide on whether to start on the soft or the hard. We need to wait and see what the other guys do. 

"For me the hard slides too much on the rear so we need to modify the setting and tomorrow we'll try and do the best to stay close to the top."

Should Rossi opt for the softer rear tyre the extra initial grip should help him fight at the front early on, which could in turn benefit team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in his title battle with Marc Marquez.

Marquez, Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa will start ahead of Rossi on the front row.