Valentino Rossi says Yamaha has been facing problems with its electronics since the switch to the unified software package for MotoGP in 2016.
Yamaha is currently in the midst of its longest losing streak in the MotoGP era, with the Iwata marque going without a win since Rossi took victory at Assen last year – a gap of 21 races.
During the Austrian weekend, after its worst qualifying of the season, Yamaha bosses publicly apologised to its riders.
Both Rossi and teammate Maverick Vinales have struggled with a lack of grip under acceleration, an issue they believe is caused by the electronics.
Rossi says electronics have been an issue for Yamaha since MotoGP switched to the unified Magneti Marelli package two years ago, and believes Honda and Ducati made a bigger gain midway through last season, bringing them back to the “same level” as the 2015 package.
“A difficult season, because I think Yamaha at this moment is not as competitive as Honda and Ducati,” Rossi said in an interview with motogp.com.
“We start to have some problem from when we have to go from the Yamaha electronics to the standard issue Magneti Marelli, same issue for everybody.
“They make the rules to lower the level of the electronics compared to 2015, for example.
“It was a big step in 2016, but in the middle of 2017 Honda and Ducati are able to come back at the same level [as the old electronics] and Yamaha wasn't able to do this step.”
Currently second in the championship, 59 points from series leader Marc Marquez, Rossi admits it will be “hard” to hold onto this spot through to the end of the year if Yamaha fails to make any gains.
“It's a long, long way from the end of the season and it is quite frustrating if we are not able to improve,” he added.
“For me, it's very important to understand if Yamaha wants to win, and not if Yamaha want to win but how much, because for me if they make more effort and the Yamaha has the potential, we can recover the situation.
“Now I'm second, I think that is a good position, but I think it will be hard to keep this position to the end. The biggest problem is I am not fast enough at this moment to put Marquez under pressure.”
