Rossi predicts ‘very tough fight’ for 2017 MotoGP title

Valentino Rossi sees “a very tough fight” ahead after the ultra-competitive lap times produced by a number of riders at the Sepang MotoGP test.

The Italian set the fifth fastest time on Wednesday – sixth on the combined timesheets – thanks to a 1m 59.5s lap, which pleased the Movistar Yamaha rider given the tricky conditions in Malaysia.

Rossi trialled a raft of new parts, including the eye-catching new chassis and revamped fairing which bore positive results.

It was when he cast an eye over the pace of other riders however - notably Maverick Viñales and those riding for Repsol Honda and the factory Ducati team – that he sounded a word of caution.

“At the end the test is positive, because my lap time was good,” Rossi said. “My final lap of 1m 59.5s is not so bad. We are all very close. But especially we find a lot of good things for the bike. Especially this afternoon, we worked more on the new chassis, and I feel good. At the end we found something interesting to improve.

“It was a difficult test because it was very long but we found something positive. All the new stuff – not all, but the major part – is good.

“The problem is that the first riders are all very close and all very fast. Together on the time attack but also on the pace. So I think that it will be a very tough fight.”