Rossi regrets 'wasted opportunity'

The former champion fell early in the race while trying to pass Randy de Puniet for sixth place.

At the time, his title rival Casey Stoner was running a comfortable second, but he would later fade to fifth.

"Unfortunately I couldn't manage to overtake de Puniet who was very fast in the sections with the overtaking spots, so I tried to pass him on the double right-hander at the bottom of the downhill bit but I leaned too much and I lost the front," Rossi told Italia1 television.

"It's a shame, because today was a good chance to make up lots of points and I had the right tyres and a good set-up. It could have been a good race. A great chance gone wasted.

"This morning we found an optimal balance, I could be very, very quick. It's a shame. At least Stoner was only fifth. At last they've had some problems too, so we managed to lose just 11 points. But there's a lot of regret for the wasted opportunity.

"The difference in performance among the various bikes has shrunk: all the bikes are quick, so it's very difficult to make up ground. Unfortunately on this track you can only overtake in two spots, and there de Puniet was very quick. He looked like riding more with the aim of keeping me behind than of going forwards.

"I was losing too much time to the others. In hindsight, seeing how the race went, it would have been better to wait and maybe finish second. But I wanted to win, and I could see Pedrosa running away, so I went for it. It was a mistake."

Rossi said his only problem in the race had been rising water temperature.

"Unfortunately we lack a bit of engine power and especially with this heat we have a problem with water temperature making us lose some power, but besides that the bike was going well, the Michelins did fine all the way to the end," he said.

He now trails Stoner by 32 points, but remains optimistic about his chances of closing the gap.

"We've been very quick with our tyres for the last three races," Rossi said.

"We have some trouble at the beginning but then our Michelins do well until the end. At Donington we could have been quick but then it rained and at Assen it went well. Here I could certainly have had a good race: the pace they were running was within my capabilities.

"This time it was my mistake so I must apologise to everyone. We had made a good job and we were ready to fight.

"Fortunately we are back racing in seven days. The potential is there and there are many races to go. We can still make up the gap and have some good races.

"The championship is still long and the most important thing is trying to do well until the end and be consistent.

"One mistake during the season is acceptable, and I've made one unfortunately. We could have made up many points."