Rossi 'frustrated' by lack of Ducati progress in two years

Nine-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi says he has found life on the works Ducati tough, difficult and frustrating as he believes he hasn't managed to make any progress in the last two years.

Nine-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi says he has found life on the works Ducati tough, difficult and frustrating as he believes he hasn't managed to make any progress in the last two years.

The Doctor, who finished seventh and nearly 40 seconds behind winner Casey Stoner at Phillip Island, says he has the same problems with the Desmosedici he had at the first Valencia test in 2010 and now can't wait to jump back on the M1 in two weeks' time.

"It was very tough, difficult and frustrating. The most frustrating, apart from the bad results and the bad feeling is that more or less we have the same problem we had in Valencia in 2010 with this bike," said Rossi, speaking at Phillip Island.

"Sometimes you feel like you waste your time. It is a good decision for me and I cannot wait to ride the M1. I think I can give very important support to Yamaha for improve the bike. I am sure of this 100 per cent. 

"Me and the Yamaha was the perfect match with the way to work and improve the bike. I am not sure if I am able to stay at the same level as Lorenzo and Pedrosa and fight for wins and championships. Sincerely, I don't know. The test in Valencia will be very important for understand where we have to work.

"Will be interesting and for sure I am more interested to what I feel riding the M1, for sure. I think that after the first test we can understand in a better way my potential for next year. I wanna try the bike, after two difficult season. 

"And I think that anyway go at the top level like Lorenzo, like Pedrosa will be hard for me, and I have to work and my team have to work at 100% for achieve the type of result. 

"But I think we can have a clear idea, better idea after the first test, but especially if we want to try to fight with them, we have to work, we have to improve."

By David Miller

Image by Ducati Corse