Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi disappointed in sixth

Having topped the timesheets in yesterday’s opening practice session at a sweltering hot Sepang circuit, Valentino Rossi couldn’t hide his disappointment this afternoon after he qualified in a lowly sixth on the grid.

The Italian was unable to get the best out of the extra grip offered by the softer compound Bridgestone rear tyre and he could only set a best time of 2.02.030.

That only just secured him a place on the second row of the grid with Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Colin Edwards just 0.067s adrift in seventh.

The 31-year-old though was 0.493s behind Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and he conceded he faced a tough challenge in tomorrow’s 20-lap race to emulate his stunning third place in Japan last weekend.

The nine-times world champion said: “It was a difficult practice and I expected to be faster. With the hard tyre we are not so bad but unfortunately already with the hard tyre I have quite a lot of movement.

“And when I put the soft tyre in I can’t use the extra grip because the bike was moving and sliding everywhere, so unfortunately I’m starting from the second row.

“This will be a problem and it becomes more difficult because I think if it doesn’t rain tomorrow it will be the hardest race of the season for everybody. Starting from the second row is more complicated.

“We try to improve the grip with some modified settings and we know with the hard tyre we’re not far away. I don’t give up and I’ll try and make the maximum.”

Tomorrow’s race will undoubtedly be one of the toughest physical examinations of the season with temperatures close to 35 degrees this afternoon.

Although not seriously troubled by the on-going right shoulder injury that Rossi has carried since April, he said his lack of fitness would be crucial in the energy sapping heat.

Rossi, who has not finished higher than third since he returned from a broken right leg in July, added: “My shoulder is not too bad but after some laps I start to have a lack of power and in this temperature I start to suffer with the lack of training in the last period.

“Unfortunately after the leg injury in June I can’t work so hard or prepare my body to breathe properly. I can’t do the aerobic exercises I need to be 100 per cent ready for these conditions.

“I suffer because of this and tomorrow the race will be very hard, but it will be the same for everybody. It will depend on the condition of the bike. If we improve the setting and the bike becomes easier to ride it will be easier for me physically.”