JAKARTA - Valentino Rossi is feeling optimistic after breaking his personal record at the Losail Circuit, Qatar, when undergoing the fourth day of pre-season testing on Thursday local time.
Rossi, who this year raced in the uniform of the Petronas Yamaha SRT team, tested the front fender, fork and rear suspension of his new M1 motorbike and compared different chassis.
A quite productive day for The Doctor, who completed 52 laps and ended the seven-hour test session at number eight with a time of 1: 53.993, 0.749 seconds adrift of the best time of the day made by Monster Energy Yamaha team racer Maverick Vinales.
"This is the first time in my career to record 1:53 in Qatar, this is the best and very important lap," Rossi said as quoted by Antara's official MotoGP website.
A 1: 53.993 puts a smile on @ ValeYellow46's face after setting his best ever lap around the Losail International Circuit! 😁The Italian is feeling upbeat after closing the gap to the leaders on Day 4 of the #QatarTest! 🙌 # MotoGP | 🎥https: //t.co/2NqSh0BJ4o
- MotoGP ™ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 11, 2021
"For the time attack, in particular, during the race I still have to be a little better. But on the other hand we are happy because we did well today.
"I can be faster when entering corners, and especially my race pace has improved a lot," said Rossi.
Rossi is able to keep himself competitive despite being the most senior racer on the MotoGP grid. However, the nine times world champion from Italy still has a lot to do if he wants to catch up with the top riders, who are much younger than him.
Vinales, Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo, claim the top three places for Yamaha on day four.
"I can get closer to the top riders," said Rossi.
Rossi also had the opportunity to test the 2021 chassis which he said could increase the speed of the motorbike around corners, although not as good as the 2019 chassis.
"I like the new chassis because last year we had a lot of difficulty in turning and we didn't have enough cornering speed, which is our strength point.
Losail circuit, QatarMotoGP test2, day1📸 @ FAlex79 @TINOFoto pic.twitter.com/mw14Gu4h7u
- Valentino Rossi (@ ValeYellow46) March 11, 2021
"With the 2021 chassis it is much better, but the 2019 bike is a little better, but I think it will be difficult to get back on that bike.
"The most important thing is that Yamaha is working in the right direction, also with aerodynamics we are improving our top speed and in particular we are reducing the distance from those at the top because last year the gap was very wide and in the race it was difficult.
Rossi and his team-mate Morbidelli still have a number of components to be tested on the final day of the test, Saturday, before the MotoGP season opens with the first two races in Qatar on March 28 and April 4.
The top ten in Qatar's fourth day of testing:
1. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) - 1: 53,244
2. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.079
3. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.154
4.Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.200
5. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 0.396
6. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.583
7. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.616
8. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.749
9. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.812
10. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.859
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