Valentino Rossi: Yamaha hurt by other MotoGP teams' tyre troubles

A chain of events that started with a rear-tyre problem on Scott Redding's Pramac Ducati in Saturday's pre-qualifying practice and influenced by overnight rain resulted in officials changing the Termas de Rio Hondo format.

The race distance came down from 25 laps to 20, and while riders could use the original allocation of Michelin tyres - which had temporarily been withdrawn on Saturday night - they had to stop to change bikes mid-race.

Asked whether he felt the decision was the right move, Rossi said: "For me, personally, no.

"Because we can make all of the race without any problem. We can do 25 laps.

"But for safety reasons it is OK like this."

Rossi was right behind eventual winner Marc Marquez when they both entered the pitlane on lap 10, but a marginally slower bike change and then slower out-lap handed Marquez an advantage he did not waste, as Rossi struggled on his second bike.

"In the first part I was a lot stronger, a lot more competitive," he said,

"I thought that I could do a very good fight to try to win.

"It's also a shame because, essentially, during the weekend with Yamaha, we never had problems with the tyres.

"So for the problem of another bike we needed to change everything when we don't suffer.

"With the rain of last night, the track changed the level of grip, a little bit like Friday and in these conditions we struggle a little bit more.

"For some reason with the second bike, especially with the second set of tyres, I didn't feel good.

"I had a lot more problems to have the same pace."

He eventually finished second, but only after Ducati's Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso tangled on the final lap.

"After I arrived in the last corner, the two Ducatis went out, so these 20 points are like gold for the championship," Rossi said.