French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi upbeat despite set-up problems

Valentino Rossi remained in upbeat mood in Le Mans today despite being the only rider not to post a faster time in the second French MotoGP free practice session.

A lap of 1:34.886 secured the Italian third fastest this morning, but he could only muster a quickest time of 1.34.959 this afternoon saw him drop to sixth overall.

Rossi, who claimed his first victory for Bridgestone in Shanghai earlier this month, said: “This morning we started quite well. I had a good rhythm and I was able to be third fastest with a good time.

“This afternoon to begin with it was also okay but then we tried some different things and it wasn’t so good. We tried a tyre I didn’t like so much and also a setting that didn’t feel so good so overall the result was not great.

“We weren’t able to improve our time from the morning but we actually learned quite a lot, which I hope will help us, so now we just need to work hard to decide what is the best way for tomorrow.

“I am confident we can improve. It wasn’t a perfect day but we know why we didn’t improve so we’re not too worried.”