MotoGP: Valentino Rossi makes ‘difficult' admission ahead of San Marino Grand Prix
MOTOGP star Valentino Rossi admits he faces a huge battle to secure a podium finish in Misano.
The Yamaha superstar will start his home Grand Prix seventh on the grid.
Rossi was 0.399s behind Ducati ace Jorge Lorenzo who bagged pole yesterday.
"Starting from the third row, everything is difficult, especially at the first chicane," said Rossi.
"It's true also all the guys in front have a good pace - we have everybody more or less there.
MotoGP hero Valentino Rossi will start seventh on the grid
“But starting from the third row will be not fantastic.
"We have to try to be strong from the start and especially in the first two laps.
"We have to work now, this afternoon, for tomorrow morning.
“For me, to fight for the podium I need two tenths. If we find them somewhere, we can try."
Rossi hasn’t secured a win in over a year.
His M1 bike has also been plagued by electronics issues this season.
The veteran rider has clawed his way to second in the overall standings.
But his rivals are now closing in.
BT Sport pundit James Toseland predicts another difficult afternoon for Rossi and Yamaha.
He exclusively told Express Sport: “I think it’s going to be another long old weekend for them.
“Misano is very much about how the engine performance works with the torque because of the nature of the corners there.
“They do have a few problems with that and have done for most of the season.
“They are going to find it difficult, but obviously with this being his home race you can never rule him out of at least a podium.
“But to win - and beat Marc Marquez or the Ducatis - is looking a bit too difficult at the moment.”
San Marino Grand Prix starting grid
J. Lorenzo
Ducati·#99
1 1:31.629
J. Miller
Ducati·#43
2 1:31.916
M. Vinales
Yamaha·#25
3 1:31.950
A. Dovizioso
Ducati·#4
4 1:32.003
M. Marquez
Honda·#93
5 1:32.016
C. Crutchlow
Honda·#35
6 1:32.025
V. Rossi
Yamaha·#46
7 1:32.028
D. Petrucci
Ducati·#9
8 1:32.136
J. Zarco
Yamaha·#5
9 1:32.250
A. Rins
Suzuki·#42
10 1:32.338
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