Rossi: "We have a lot of work to do"

9-time world champion goes over Friday's track time at home in Misano

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) got his home Gran Premio TIM di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini off to a great start at Misano World Circuit, as the 3-time winner at the track topped FP1 from Friday's eventual fastest Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). The Italian legend is on great form coming into the race after two podiums in a row, but feels there's a lot of work left to do following FP2, with the front tyre espeically proving a problem for the Yamaha rider.

In addition, one incident at the final corner saw Rossi gesticulate at Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) after a close call near the end of a hot lap for the Italian, believing the Spaniard to have seen him and not moved out of the way; reminiscent of an incident in 2015 that saw the roles reversed for the Italian as teammate Jorge Lorenzo was similarly held up.

Valentino Rossi (P6): "We started really well this morning, with the lower temperatures I was stronger on the track, but in the afternoon we suffered a bit and it was more difficult - although it was for everyone. We have a lot of work to do because we were at the limit, especially with the front tyre. We have to find a good balance for the race on Sunday. I don't understand what Aleix Espargaro was doing, because he saw me and then kept the same line and didn't move."