Rossi expects competitive weekend

The Italian endured a difficult season opener in Qatar, where he had to settle for fifth place, but is now aiming to bounce back at Jerez.

Rossi has won seven times at the Spanish circuit, and he believes he might be able to do it again this weekend.

"It's always a pleasure to ride the bike at this track," Rossi told a news conference on Thursday. "I have great, great memories with good victories, and the last was last year, so I think it's possible to be competitive.

"We know in Qatar we were never so fast. In the test (here) it was a little bit better. I'm waiting for tomorrow morning to see our performance but I think it's possible to have a good weekend."

He added: "Yamaha has worked very well, and the bike is competitive. I need a little bit more time, but I think we are on the right way. We expect a good result here and after that to say on top until the end of the season."

Rossi, who lost out to compatriot Andrea Dovizioso in the dying moments of the Qatar race, says his Yamaha team must attack more this weekend.

"I enjoyed the first five laps, but after that it was quite difficult for me because I couldn't ride like I wanted," Rossi said of his Qatar race.

"So in the end it was a great fight with Andrea but I had to defend too much because I was not fast enough. So we have to work and try to attack this weekend and not to defend."

Rossi admitted he was not too surprised by the strong form of this year's rookie, after Dovizioso finished in fourth in Qatar, with 250cc champion Jorge Lorenzo in second place.

The Italian confessed he was more surprised to see Superbikes world champion James Toseland do so well so quickly, after the Briton fought near the top in Qatar.

"These type of 800cc bikes are closer to the style of the 250s so they are very fast from the beginning.

"I was more surprised from James, because Superbikes are so different, but he understands the style of these bikes very fast and he rode very close to me. So I think it's going to be a good championship in the next races."