Valentino Rossi admits Yamaha's "maximum" result at the moment is third, after securing a third-successive final rostrum place in Sunday's MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix.
Rossi has made it onto the podium four times this season, but all of those rostrum appearances have been in third place, with the Italian enjoying a run of three on the bounce.
The Italian got away well from seventh on the grid, and found himself third when Andrea Dovizioso crashed out at Turn 5 on lap nine of Sunday's race.
Rossi admits he is losing at least “two tenths” a lap in the first half of a race, and concedes Yamaha isn't “stronger” than its rivals to challenge them for the victory.
“I don't see very deeply the pace, but unfortunately I was not faster than them, also in the beginning,” said Rossi, who is now 27 points down on Marc Marquez in second in the championship.
“I was good at the start, because after the warm-up I know that I have to try to jump the second row, because I know [Jorge] Lorenzo, Dovi and Marquez are the guys for the podium.
“Was a great start, was a great first lap, I overtake also Iannone. But from this moment, I lose two tenths of advantage compared to them, sometimes three, sometimes two, but same for all the race.
“In the second half of the race I was good, I saw always Marc more or less at the same distance.
“But we need more speed, I'm happy because it's three podiums in a row, but I finish maximum in third place in this season.
“So we are not stronger at this moment to fight for other than the podium. We need to try some different areas to make this two tenths.”
Team-mate Maverick Vinales once again faded in the opening stages of the race from fourth to the lower reaches of the top 10, before mounting a strong charge in the latter laps to claim sixth.
The Spaniard employed a new tactic prior to the race, to push harder on the sighting and warm-up laps in order to prepare the tyres better.
However, he was left at a loss for words as to why he is struggling so much in the early stages of a race, and believes without these problems he could have fought Lorenzo for the win on Sunday.
He said: “I had a lot of trouble in the first laps, especially at the start, I seem to be the only Yamaha to have problems, I really don't understand it.
“I need to have the possibility to start well and then, for sure, it's going to be another race.
“When I'm alone on the track I can do the same rhythm as Jorge and Marc. We need to keep working, stay focused on our side, to be strong.
“It's difficult right now, but we'll keep pushing. I know that when the bike is good I'm there at the front, that's why I'm calm.”
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