Rossi pleased with latest Michelins

The former world champion has not finished on the MotoGP podium since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of June, and Michelin's inferiority has been significant a factor in his difficulties.

But after taking second and third places in today's two practice sessions at Estoril, Rossi believes Michelin is making progress.

"I'm quite happy as the new stuff worked quite well," he said. "Small differences, but the bigger improvement comes from the new tyres because the front has no disadvantage, with some better things that give to me more feeling and better corner entry.

"The new rear I like a lot and I'm able to go quite fast from the beginning."

Rossi feels his actual pace is second only to Casey Stoner, even though Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha rider Makoto Tamada pushed him back to third in the second session. But he is unsure if he can maintain that speed throughout the race.

"We worked well, always around second place. If we take out Tamada with his Q tyre we are there," Rossi said.

"The rhythm may be difficult to do 28 laps as through the last corner we are over on the right side of the tyre for some seven seconds. I go quite fast with the 'Misano' tyres, but we will decide which one to use tomorrow.

"The track today is quite slippery so maybe tomorrow with more rubber on the surface the tyre work better and maybe that will be better for the race. What else is good is that the tyre enables me to push right from the beginning.

"We are more competitive here than Misano. We are closer to Bridgestone; not a massive step but an important step."

Rossi added that Yamaha's new pneumatic valve engine, which he has sole use of again this weekend, provided another small step forward.

"With the new engine the difference is just about four or five km/h," he said.

"It is stronger at the top end of the rpm. We will use the engine tomorrow and in the race. It is not very much for a long straight, but we work tomorrow on the Suspension and work on the right tyre choice."