Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has delivered a thinly-veiled prod at Ducati in his preview of this weekend's MotoGP second round at Jerez, saying he must try to take advantage of what he has to work with.

Rumour in the premier class paddock speculates there has been a massive fall out between The Doctor and Ducati over his comments to Italian television after the Qatar race and only face-saving and a £13m contract has stopped him walking out of the ride.

“I’ve always liked the Jerez track a lot, and we certainly must try to do better than in Qatar. By the end of the three-day test in March, we had found a decent setup for the GP12, so we have a base to start from for this track as we prepare the bike for the race. It will be very important to work well during the Friday and Saturday practice sessions, focusing particularly on maintaining a good direction and on taking advantage of what we currently have to work with," said Rossi. Ouch...