Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi struggles to seventh

Valentino Rossi blamed a first corner mistake and a lack of strength in his right shoulder for his failure to finish higher than seventh position in his much-anticipated factory Ducati debut in Qatar.

Rossi made a lightning start from ninth to take second at the first corner but immediately ran wide under braking.

He fought Texan Ben Spies for sixth until lap 16 but tired quickly as the shoulder he first injured in a moto cross training accident nearly a year ago left him struggling to maintain his pace.

The 32-year-old said: “For sure we’re not here to get seventh place finishes, but there are also positive things from this race, starting with the times, because we were lapping pretty quickly.

“I had a great start, and that was a nice feeling because the horsepower that this bike has really helps it to launch. Then I made a small error in the first turn, which is a shame because I got stuck behind Barbera for a few laps. Otherwise I would have been closer to Simoncelli and Dovizioso, since anyway there was a period when I lapped with them.

“I wouldn’t have beaten them though, because at the end of the race, I’m no longer able to ride like I have to. I’m not referring to the Ducati because even last year, after I hurt my shoulder, I had the same problems in the latter parts of the races, and since the two bikes are so different, it means that it’s really a matter of me not being physically right.

“It’s not just that. We also have to improve the bike because the others have clearly made a step forward since last year. Still, I learned a lot in this test and in this race, and we’ve already given very specific instructions about what must be done in the long term, in order to improve for the second half of the season.”

Find out what changes Ducati will make to its GP11 in Estoril soon by getting this week’s copy of Motor Cycle News (March 23).