MotoGP: Valentino Rossi still looking for qualifying improvement

Factory Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi has renewed calls for Bridgestone to improve its qualifying rubber, despite claiming his first front row start in 2008 in Estoril earlier this month.

Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo has a 100 per cent pole position record in 2008 on his Michelin-shod YZR-M1, with Michelin remaining superior on qualifying tyres compared to its Japanese rivals.

Valentino Rossi is the only Bridgestone rider to qualify on the front row in the season’s opening three races and he said: “For us the qualifying tyre is the place where we have to work a lot and it is the worst aspect of Bridgestone.

“We are not so bad but Michelin is impressive and it is fantastic with Jorge making three pole positions on debut. He is a good rider but the Michelin qualifier is fantastic. We have to work.”