Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi believes he is the same situation as at the end of the MotoGP 2017 despite having a new chassis and engine going into the new season.

The Doctor set the second quickest time in Qatar but says over a race distance he is only a little better than in Thailand and the same as in Sepang.

“The general feeling here is better than Thailand. It’s a little between Thailand and Malaysia. Malaysia was the best for me about the pace and everything. Thailand we suffered more.

“Here is in between. Like I said, my pace is not so bad. The problem is the front tyre. The tyre that I like it’s difficult to arrive at the end. We need to improve this aspect. This is the main issue.”

When asked to compare the bikes from last year to this year, Rossi intimated not a huge amount had changed.

“I think more or less we are on the same levelI feel good with the chassis because the bike turns better than last year, but for me we have to work a lot on the electronics. In the acceleration we suffer,” he said. “It’s difficult, especially with the used tyre, exiting from the corner.

“It looks like the other manufacturers are better from this point of view. I think we have to work hard.”