Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi says it is “a great surprise” that he finds himself leading the MotoGP standings after three rounds.
The Italian struggled during pre-season testing but has finished on the podium at all three races completed so far.
With his third in Qatar and runner-up results in Argentina and the USA, Rossi now finds himself in the championship lead with 56 points, six clear of his new team-mate Maverick Viñales.
"It was a great surprise for me and for the team because we were struggling very much with the new bike, especially during the winter," he explained.
"I think we need more time to understand the setting and the way to ride it, but at the end this bike is very good, especially in the race and with the used tyres.
"I'm so happy [about the race], because I wasn't so far from the front and it's also the best result of my career at this track, so it's good.
Rossi was awarded an unusual 0.3-second penalty at the Circuit of the Americas after cutting the track in avoidance of Johann Zarco, who was trying to make a move.
The stewards deemed Rossi gained an advantage and he was penalised. He said: “For me the penalty wasn’t right.
“The problem is we either do it like this, or we crash together at a very dangerous point. But for me, though accepting Race Direction’s decision, the mistake was made by Zarco.”
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