Estoril MotoGP: Traction issue blunts Valentino Rossi’s challenge

Rear traction issues cost Valentino Rossi his hopes of inching closer to a seventh MotoGP world title after he could only finish in a distant fourth in Estoril.

The Italian was never in contention in one of his worst ever races on board Yamaha’s YZR-M1 machine.

Rossi was hammered by over 23 seconds by dominant Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and more significantly what looked like a relatively comfortable 30-point lead going into yesterday’s 28-lap race is now only 18 heading into the final three races.

Rossi blamed grip issues with his rear Bridgestone tyre for his failure to mount any serious threat for an 11th rostrum finish in 2009.

“It was a very difficult race for me,“ said the 30-year-old, who endured a thoroughly miserable 100th MotoGP outing for Yamaha.

“I was never able to be fast because I did not have enough grip in the rear and our tyre did not work well, but I think it was more a problem of setting.

“After a few laps I was in great difficulties and I immediately understood that this was not going to be “our” race.

“Throughout the practice sessions I had some problems but I thought that today I would be able to at least stay with (Casey) Stoner and (Dani) Pedrosa, but they made another step forward for the race and then there was no chance for me.

“On Friday I was three tenths off the pace and unfortunately this stayed the same all weekend and in the race today.

“Here in Estoril we struggled last year as well, so it might be that, with our setting, the rear tyre gets very hot and this causes a lack of grip. It is a pity that I am off the podium, but we have three more races and they are three great tracks.

“We must think race by race and we must work to understand what the problem was today in order to make sure that we fix it in time for Phillip Island”.

Rossi said his dismal display yesterday would mean his team would need to ensure they found quicker solutions to problems in the future.

He added: “This is better than crashing because 13 points is important. I remember some difficult races in the last two years, Qatar last year, also here in Portugal, so sometimes we have problems.

“We have to understand why and work in a better way with the team to arrive on Sunday with a better setting.”