Valentino Rossi bemoans early speed at Silverstone

It was a case of too little, too late again for nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi at Silverstone yesterday (Sunday) after the Italian finished in fourth position for the third consecutive race.

The 34-year-old was once again unable to challenge dominant Spanish trio Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa after struggling for pace on fresh tyres in the early stages.

As was the case in Indianapolis and Brno, Rossi’s pace in the final laps was comparable to the top three. But by that stage he is way out of podium contention and for the fourth race in a row he was locked in a big scrap with Gresini Honda rider Alvaro Bautista to the chequered flag.

Rossi prevailed over the Spaniard once again but he admitted that his hopes of adding to his four podium finishes in 2013 are being handicapped by his poor pace in the crucial early laps.

Rossi, who now sits 20-points clear of Cal Crutchlow in fourth place in the world championship standings, said: “It is a better result than Brno because this track is very difficult. I have always had bad results here in the past two seasons. We had a better race set-up that gave a couple of tenths per lap but unfortunately it is not enough.  The first three riders are so strong, especially in the first six or seven laps.

It’s a pity because I did a very good start and was close to the front but there was no way I could go with them. I was in too much trouble at the beginning to stay with those guys.  Later when the rear started to slide and put less pressure on the front I could enter faster in the corners and did some good lap times. But this is not enough to stay with the top guys and we need another step. I am constant and not so far from the front but they are stronger.”

The acid test of Rossi’s prospects in the final third of 2013 will come in his home race at Misano on September 15.

He was even on the podium in Misano a year ago on the struggling Ducati Desmosedici and he added: “Now we go to Misano and I was always on the podium there on the Yamaha and once with the Ducati last year. I am always fast there so I need to improve the result.”

For 11-pages of coverage from the British Grand Prix, see the September 4 issue of Motor Cycle News.