Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi believes the Michelin MotoGP control tyres will bring about a more normal, natural way of riding in 2016 and that not only will the racing lines changes, but there will be less lean angle and elbow-down action.

The Doctor, who finished second on the Sepang test timesheets today behind team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, says there is still a lot of improvements to be made to the new tyres but now he and his crew understand what they need to change on the YZR-M1 in order to get the best out of the rubber.

“The front Michelin has improved. The rear was already not so bad but the first feeling is good, you can arrive closer to the limit and stronger. It’s a long way still, we need to improve, but we start to understand what the Michelin need from the bike. Last year, we don’t know. The setting of the Bridgestone is very different, so if you put that setting with the Michelin, the bike is impossible,” said The Doctor, speaking at Sepang.

“Now we understand what the Michelin need to get full potential. It’s the weight balance and it looks like the front tyre work a little bit different. My style on the bike, we will see less angle, so less elbow on the track but the positions on the bike are very similar. The difference will be on the line and approach of the corner, braking and entering. The lines will be more like you ride a normal bike, more natural. Bridgestone was more particular.”