Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi will have to work on eradicating wheelspin ahead of Sunday’s Jerez MotoGP round as he says the high track temperatures are causing his YZR-M1 to lose time under acceleration.
The Doctor ended today sixth on the combined timesheet and a little less than eight-tenths slower than table-topper Aleix Espargaro but more importantly, only four-tenths behind the leading factory bike of Jorge Lorenzo. He also tried a new chassis today and gave it a tentative thumbs up.
“Today was not so bad, I am quite happy from the practice. I was quite fast from the beginning to the end and I am not so bad in the sectors, all the part of the track but we have to work very much because the track is clean but doesn’t have a lot of grip, a lot of rubber, and especially in acceleration, we spin a lot,” said Rossi, speaking at Jerez.
“With this in the afternoon, it is very difficult for the tyres because it is very hot and we try to work on the pace. I am not so bad because I can make a good rhythm, good lap times and I think the top riders we on a similar level. Tyre choice will be interesting, front, rear we still not decide.
"We tried a different chassis today especially for the braking stability and the first impression is not so bad, it’s just a small step to understand the way to go. The track is very greasy so it’s difficult with the front and rear tyres with the high temperatures."
