Valentino Rossi will start the final race of his historic career from 10th on the grid after a strong Saturday at Valencia.

The Petronas Yamaha legend qualified directly into the final shootout after coming out all guns blazing on Saturday morning with a 1’30.825 lap. Heading out from pitlane, neatly and somewhat conveniently, behind Pecco Bagnaia, he tucked in for a tow off the VR46 Academy rider.

The initial try was unsuccessful as Rossi ran wide at turn one - ending the first run down in 11th - but the pair went again with fresh tyres. The lap improved The Doctor’s pace to a 1’30.746 and while yellow flags prevented further improvement, Rossi later admitted that was about his ‘potential’. Leaving him with a fourth row start for his farewell dance.

“Was a great Saturday,” a satisfied Rossi said from the Ricardo Tormo paddock. “Very positive from this morning because already in FP3 I improved the feeling with the bike, with the tyres and with the setting and I was not too bad. At the end I was able to stay in the top 10 and to go directly to the Q2. This change a lot, everything.

“In FP4, we try some different tyres. I try medium and hard. I hope that tomorrow we can have good weather like today and I think that the medium is better.

“In the qualifying, I was able to improve my lap time, 30.7 and stay in the top 10 another time. Very close to the first Yamaha and this is a great, great feeling for me and for the team in my last race. I think that apart from the emotional moment, for me is very important try to make a good weekend, a good result.

“Yesterday had half/half conditions,” he continued, referencing his less than positive Friday at the back of the field. “A little bit like in Misano on Friday and Saturday for example. In this practice, when the track is half and half but you have to push with the slick, depends very much not just from the skills but also [how] brave and how much you want to risk - the English guys call ‘the balls’ usually - because it’s very dangerous with the slick tyre to pass through the wet patches.

“Yes, Pecco help me in the qualifying and I’m very happy,” he admitted on his afternoon boost. “We don’t have a clear plan but I just start behind him and he see me but he continue to push, so thanks a lot to Pecco that help me to improve my lap time. For me, the good lap is the first lap with the rear tyre, because already on the second lap I lose something. I can do a little bit better, I think but this is my potential.

“The tyres make a big change in the last years,” he reflected on his changing form. “I always need a hard rear tyre with good support - for this reason I was very strong with Bridgestone and I started to suffer more with the Michelin, because Michelin is a lot softer. But especially in the last two years, they make another step and you gain the grip but the tyre is very, very soft. We need to change another time the setting with the bike and also the riding style and was not very easy. Also, for me and Danilo, we are the tallest. I’m thin but anyway my weight is quite high compared to the rest and this is not fantastic for the Michelin tyre. But this is MotoGP, this is the game. Is also difficult I think when you arrive to the certain age to change another time all the style, all the way to use the gas, is not easy.”