Valentino Rossi has described Ducati’s qualifying speed🐷 at the Sepang test as “incredible” while his fears over race pace are subdued despಞite hunting Yamaha gains.

The nine-time world champion marvelled at the all-Ducati top four led by Danilo Petrucci ♍who set a new unofficial lap record at Sepang of 1m 58.239s to lay down a marker to its MotoGP rivals.

Rossi, who ended the final day at the Malaysian test 10^th fastest almost a full second slower than Petrucci’s timesheet-topper, says Ducati has retained an impress𝔉ive performance gap over a single lap time attack but feels progress is being made by Yamaha in its racꦬe pace.

“In the time att♔ack, the Ducati w🔯ere incredible,” Rossi said. “Also we don't have Marquez beceause of his shoulder. So in the hot lap we suffered.

“But about the 🀅pace looks like we are a bit closer. But I'm quite worried still, if we race tomorrow I think that we would suffer because we have something else to improve.

, and to finish the Sepang test. Lots of discussion about lap times beyond one fast lap. Pace shown by Marquez on day three was a surprise. Race lap record is a 2m 0.6s.

— Peter McLaren (@McLarenMotoGP)

Having been given confidence in Yamaha’s direct▨ion after being “a bit lost” for the past 🦄two years, Rossi says focus remains on improving the Japanese manufacturer’s acceleration and power delivery ahead of the 2019 season wheꦍn comparing his pace to Yamaha’s rivals.

“We work a bit, some things we improve, but is one part where 🍷we have to work is the engine character in acceleration is an area where I think we still suffer,” he said.

“We expected a lot, unfortunately [it] didn’t bring us what we need. It’s the first test, we improve some things, but we have a lot of work 🦹🐷to do because the gap was quite big.”