Marlboro Ducati's Valentino Rossi has gone back to basics and fundamentally changed the riding position on his GP11.1 to take the handlebars higher and further forward which has resulted in a better feeling from the front end.

Rossi also changed the bar offset which has given him more feeling from the front tyre in both wet and dry conditions. He says he can now trail brake a lot more and squash the tyre into the tarmac in order to get the bike on the line he wants.

"We are happy because we make a modify this morning and we work on the position, especially on my position on the bike - the riding position - and I like more the bike because because I am better on the straight but especially in braking and in entry my handlebar give me more feeling from the front," said The Doctor.

"When I brake I can feel more what is happening with the front tyre and I can force more the entry using braking on the edge of the tyre. This allows me to enter the corner a lot faster and make a better line. We gain some agility and we make a step in the wet this morning. It was a good practice with good laptimes.

"In the dry this afternoon I confirm the good feeling and I can ride more on the limit. We have to adjust a bit the bike but we start on the second row which is the first time with Ducati so we are quite positive.

"I need to work a bit more for tomorrow for rear grip under acceleration and a bit better change of direction and we have some ideas. We are just 0.7s off pole position on a long track. If we fix one or two problems we can fight tomorrow if we make a good start and I can make a good race."