Rossi: Thailand test key for Yamaha development direction

Valentino Rossi is aiming to use the second official MotoGP pre-season test to find a lead for his Movistar Yamaha’s development ahead of the 2018 season.

Rossi, who turns 39 on the opening day of the Thailand test, has reverted to Yamaha’s 2016 chassis and saw instant improvements at last month’s Sepang test with the team topping the times on the opening two days.

Despite concerns around losing pace on the final days of the Sepang test and the post-season Valencia test last November, the nine-time world champion is confident his factory Yamaha squad can find a set-up to be strong from the opening race of the season.

The Chang International Circuit in Buriram will pose an all-new challenge for all the MotoGP grid with the first-ever Thailand test this weekend ahead of the circuit’s maiden MotoGP race on October 5-7. Rossi says he’s relishes getting to grips with the new track and deciding on a development direction for 2018.

“We will get to try the Chang circuit for three days, and this will be a very interesting test for us, so I'm ready to go to work,” Rossi said. “This part of the season is always important to understand which direction we should work in to be competitive from the very first race.

“The feeling of the bike was positive at the Sepang test and I felt good. We still have some work to do, but we're quite optimistic.”

During the build up to the Thailand test Rossi attended Yamaha’s Motorsports Media Conference alongside teammate Maverick Vinales, Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Johann Zarco and a number of Yamaha senior management to meet the media and local fans as well as his Yamaha VR46 Master Camp graduates.

“It's always a pleasure to see fans and media interest,” he said. “It was also great to catch up with the other Yamaha riders and some of the graduated Yamaha VR46 Master Camp students, so today was a good way to get ready before the Buriram test.”