Valentino Rossi says he goes to the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi next weekend “quite optimistic”, after a surprisingly strong weekend in Thailand for the Yamaha MotoGP team.
Rossi missed pole by just 0.011 second and was only just beaten to third by Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales in last week's Thailand race, which proved the Iwata marque's best weekend since it managed a double rostrum at the Sachsenring.
This sudden upturn in form came as a surprise to Yamaha, after Rossi failed to exit Q1 and was 10th at Aragon, while both riders struggled for pace at the pre-season test in Thailand in February.
Both riders chalked their pace to small improvements to the bike, but mainly track conditions and tyres, with Rossi wary of the Buriram circuit offering Yamaha false hope.
“For me, during the weekend, we improve a lot,” he said.
“Unfortunately I was not strong enough for the podium, but it's anyway a better race than the last three or four.
“I stay also in front, was a good weekend, I start from the front row, we were competitive.
“But still not enough, at the end [Marc] Marquez and [Andrea] Dovizioso are a bit faster than us.
“Also, we need to understand if it's just the track that helps us or in reality we make a small step.”
Rossi added that, while “optimistic” for the Motegi race, it will prove important for the remaining Pacific flyaway races if Yamaha is able to carry on its Thailand form.
“I go to Japan quite optimistic. Usually Motegi is a good track for me, I like.
“I hope it will be dry because last year it was a nightmare, always wet, and we see.
“But we'll see in the next three, not just Japan, because if in reality we improve the bike we have to be competitive in the next three, because now Ducati and Honda are strong at every race track. So it's important.”
Rossi remains third in the championship despite Yamaha's current form, with 26 points splitting him from Vinales in fourth.
Discussion about this post