Rossi hopeful of smaller gap to Ducati

The Shanghai circuit has the longest straight on the 18-race MotoGP calendar at over 1.1 kms in length, something that will benefit the Ducatis, which already showed in the season-opener in Qatar to have a superior top speed.

Despite having no new parts for his works Yamaha this weekend, Rossi is still hopeful the Japanese squad will be closer to Ducati in China.

"I had some new (engine) parts for Turkey, but for here it is unfortunately the same," Rossi, who lost the championship lead to Casey Stoner in Turkey, said.

"We hope to have less difference (in speed) than in Qatar with the Ducati to stay closer on the straight.

"In Turkey it was strange because the straight was after the fast right (corner). Here it is a real straight. For me we are a little bit faster than Qatar, but we have to wait until tomorrow to see."

The straight in Shanghai is approached by a fast opening and banked corner that means the bikes are already hitting high speed when they straighten up.

In the opening race of the season, Rossi was outpaced by Stoner by 20km/h on top speed at one point.