Valentino Rossi delighted with versatile 2010 Yamaha

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi believes Yamaha’s ability to work at a range of different tracks and in varying conditions will prove a precious asset in 2010.

The Italian is aiming to lift an eighth MotoGP crown this season and has been in superb form during winter testing.

Rossi wrapped up his winter campaign with second place in the night test under the Losail International Circuit floodlights in Qatar last week.

But despite being beaten for the first time in 2010 testing with Casey Stoner ending his impressive run of form, Rossi was delighted with the performance of his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine in Doha.

Rossi, who finished less than a tenth behind Aussie Stoner, told MCN: “From Sepang to Qatar we have not moved a lot in the setting of the bike. This means the bike is well balanced and seems to work well on a different track.

“Now we have to wait to go to a different track with colder conditions to understand if this bike is 100 per cent good because conditions were again quite hot in Qatar. But for me we are much more ready than last year.”