Valentino Rossi says struggling Yamaha 'nothing special' in practice
Valentino Rossi admitted a struggling Yamaha was "nothing special" as it ended a difficult German Grand Prix practice day in the midfield and his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo crashed heavily
Rossi and Lorenzo were only 14th and 16th in the second session, 1.3 and 1.6 seconds off the pace respectively at a cold and drizzly Sachsenring.
"Unfortunately at the end we tried something in the bike that I don't like a lot," Rossi said.
"We tried to put new tyres on, but I wasn't able to make a lap because I was stuck in traffic, if not I could go a little bit faster - but anyway our potential is nothing special.
"Today it looks like all of the Yamahas are struggling a little bit with the front, we don't have enough feeling with the front, especially in Turn 11, but also in the other right corners.
"I am in a bad position, but we hope for tomorrow and especially for Sunday to have a better forecast, better temperature and I hope we can be better.
"We have to try to be faster and more competitive."
LORENZO UNHURT IN CRASH
Lorenzo was the second of a number of drivers to fall at the fast Turn 11 in the morning.
He was concerned about his left arm as he walked away, but was cleared to continue riding after x-rays and an examination in MotoGP's mobile clinic.
"I don't have any injuries or any broken bones and I can ride like normal," Lorenzo confirmed.
"It was very cold on the track. I entered slightly faster than the previous lap, maybe some little degree of difference of leaning.
"It was much slower than last year but the conditions and the tyre were not the same."
Having struggled in the wet at Assen three weeks ago, Lorenzo admitted he was facing similar problems in the Sachsenring conditions.
"It's just a combination of not good factors that made me slow," Lorenzo said.
"We saw that the Yamaha struggles with those conditions, and I struggle a little bit more.
"With low grip and after the crash this morning, it was difficult to push and trust the bike.
"We were not competitive in any area, neither on braking nor the middle of the corner.
"With low grip, the electronics are not reacting smoothly.
"That's why we are one and a half seconds slower than the fastest rider."
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