Repeated issues plague Valentino Rossi once again on day-one of the Catalunya MotoGPꦍ, as the nine-time world champion finished 19th fastest. 

Rossi’s tenth place finish last time out at Mugello is his best resu𝓡lt of the 2021 season so far, however, Catalunya looks🎐 set to be another difficult weekend after struggling in various areas.

Rossi is particularly struggling with ‘front end’ feel on corner ‘entry’, which has been 🧜an issue throughout the year, while his woes with the soft tyre in time attack situations continued today. 

Speaking about his day, Rossi added: "Tꦉhis morning I was not fantastic but I was not so bad, I had a better feeling with the bike. My position was not fantastic because we didn't change the tyre, but I feel better. 

"This afternoon we tried 🌼a different setting to improve mainly the braking, but I didn't feel comfortable. I was too slow, I was not able to turn the bike, so my position is very bad, I am very behind. 

"Also the time attack with soft tyres is bad. Tomorrow we w🍸ill come back more similar to this morning, and we will see our potential." 

On the other 💛side of the Petronas Yamaha garage, team-mate Franco Morbidelli had a brilliant first day in Barcel🐠ona. Morbidelli was especially strong with the hard rear tyre which Rossi will try on Saturday.

The 42 y♍ear-old was asked if trying the ha♓rder tyre compound is due to often favouring that tyre in races to which he said: "Yes. Because usually I like the hard, like for example in Portugal. 

"But sometimes - for example like in Jereღz it's difficult to use it, because you go 🦹more slow, because you have less grip. 

"Bu𓄧t it looks like today especially with Franco, and also some other riders are strong with the hard rear, so tomorr꧋ow I will try for sure and we hope that we can be better."