Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi says his Movistar Yamaha is ‘dangerous’ to ride in the rain after coming seventh in today’s Sepang MotoGP.

The Doctor, and team-mate Maverick Vinales, had hoped to improve their improved wet-weather performance which has been dismal all year but Rossi finished 31s behind winner Andrea Dovizioso with Vinales another eight in arrears.

“We didn’t have any grip, it is very difficult to ride the bike, also very dangerous. You had the clear feeling that if you try a little bit more you crash, like I did in Motegi. On Friday in the wet I had some problems but I was sixth. Sincerely we modified a lot the bike and I was optimistic that would work but unfortunately I had exactly the same problem than on Friday,” said Rossi, speaking at the track.

“So this bike in the wet is very difficult to ride, it’s impossible, we don’t have grip and already to go like this, you risk very much. Is a shame because we need a good result to confirm Phillip Island and I think that in the dry I was competitive, during all the weekend I was quite strong so I could have done a good race.

“But unfortunately rain. You have to be ready in all the conditions and I hoped to do a step compared to Motegi, but in reality, no.”