Barros hoped for better than fifth

The result was the Pramac D'Antin rider's best performance since finishing third at Mugello in June, but Barros had hoped for better.

"The team is happy but I'm not because I know that I could have done more," he said.

"I started the race with a hard tyre, because we thought that the medium wouldn't last the entire race, but in the end I think I would have had a better race pace with the medium.

"Nowadays in MotoGP, if you don't have everything at 100 perecent you are not able to fight with those ahead of you."

The Brazilian, who qualified a season-best seventh, stayed in touch with the podium battle early on but ultimately had a lonely run to fifth.

Although Barros was frustrated, he said he was optimistic that he could maintain his form in the remaining races at Sepang and Valencia.

"The next race in Malaysia, I hope to follow this run of form and aim to have a good finish to the season," he said.