Valentino Rossi Rides The Yamaha

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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.

Valentino Rossi analyses Honda strengths

"We continue to be very fast in the longer corners. But Honda has found something special for the small corners" - Valentino Rossi.

After an encouraging opening day at the Malaysian MotoGP, Valentino Rossi analysed the current performance advantage of Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez.

Rossi was fourth quickest in Friday practice, a fraction slower than fastest M1 rider Cal Crutchlow, but almost one-second behind pace setter Pedrosa.

“Cal beat me by a bit, but it looks like behind the two Hondas I am the strongest, also for [race] pace. The problem is that the factory Hondas are very, very fast,” said Rossi.

“We have to try the maximum, not give up, and try to improve. But for me they have an advantage. They are too fast: Pedrosa a 2m 0.5s, but also Marquez... and in the rhythm they are faster than me.

“Anyway in the last few races Jorge was able to fight with the Hondas, so we have to try. But it will be very hard.”

The seven time MotoGP champion feels that the RC213V now has the edge in many areas - such as power, fuel and straight-line speed, aided by two very fast ("and small") riders - but highlighted corner entry as the biggest advantage.

“Our bike is fantastic, but behaves more like a normal bike," Rossi stated. “We continue to be very fast in the longer corners. But Honda has found something special for the small corners. They can make a different line into the corners, they turn very quickly and follow the inside - sometimes they almost turn too much!

“Our bike has good balance and now with the seamless gearbox we don't lose a lot in acceleration. But the Honda is more 'tight' in the corners and can use the acceleration. It looks like their bike [is built around] this type of tyre, our bike is more normal.

“Before in braking and entry the Yamaha was always very fast. Until Brno last year when Honda found something very good and this year they made another step. It looks like they can use the front tyre in a better way compared to us - that is how it looks by following. I don't know if it's true.”

Rossi added: “Our seamless gearbox does not help to be smoother into the corners, but the Honda - yes. I think they have the same [smoothness] when they shift down [as when they shift up]. 

“We are working a lot with the Japanese engineers on our seamless. The new gearbox is fast but still has some 'shock' when

MOTOGP » Malaysian MotoGP

'For sure we have to improve, but this afternoon I feel good' - Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi was happy with his day's work after the Factory Yamaha MotoGP rider finished fourth on the time sheets at Sepang in Malaysia.

Rossi was quicker than team-mate and title challenger Jorge Lorenzo in fifth overall by 0.085s on the YZR-M1, but behind Cal Crutchlow in third place on the satellite Yamaha Tech 3 by 0.115s.

The Italian star made good progress with the setting of the M1 at Sepang, although he accepts the need to make further improvements in an effort to run at the front on Sunday.

“For me personally, especially this afternoon, it was a good practice because we improved the setting of the bike a lot,” said the nine-time world champion.

“We improved with the new tyre and with the old tyre I can stay with a good pace so I feel better on the bike. For sure we have to improve, but this afternoon I feel good. 

“It seems our competitors are a little faster than us but I will try 100% because in the last races Jorge is always there fighting at the front,” added Rossi. 

“It will be hard but we have to concentrate on the bike. We are not very far but we have a small gap to recover.”