Rossi 'never fast', problem 'very similar to last year'

Valentino Rossi suffered a difficult official start to his 25th grand prix season, being left 13th on the Friday practice timesheets for the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez.

Although the Italian was only 0.768s from the top, his main concern was a repeat of last year's rear tyre issues, despite a revised design being introduced by Michelin this year.

"It was a difficult day for me because I was never fast, this morning was a bit better but this afternoon we are struggling a bit more," said the Monster Yamaha rider, who set his best lap time in the morning before slipping down to 20th in the afternoon.

"Looks like we are always in trouble with the temperature of the rear tyre and the grip of the rear tyre. This morning the weather was cooler so I was a bit closer but this afternoon with higher temperature I suffered more.

"It was difficult, I am not very comfortable with the bike and I am also not able to enter very fast into the corner.

"My problem remains very similar to last year, where I suffer more is the with the grip and temperature on the rear tyre. So we need to find the way to improve."

Team director Massimo Meregalli confirmed: "It‘s great to be back in action, but unfortunately also some of our problems from previous years with tyre degradation seem to have returned, especially with Valentino.

"Valentino suffered more from the heat. He seems to lose feeling with the tyres after a couple of laps, and accordingly he then also struggles with the balance of his bike.

"We will work hard this evening and overnight to find solutions for both issues to make him feel more comfortable during FP3, when we will be trying out for a place in Q2, a crucial part of the GP weekend."

Team-mate Maverick Vinales was second in the morning, then seventh in the afternoon.