Day-one of the Algarve MotoGP was certainly one to forget for nine-time world champion Valenti💯no Rossi after finishing 21st. 

Things got off to an even worse start for the Petronas Yamaha rider in FP1 as he 🌳finished ✅last - over four tenths away from Repsol Honda test rider Stefan Bradl who is replacing Marc Marquez this weekend. 

And ♓while Rossi narrowly reduced his deficit from the leader in FP1 to FP2, the Italian was still 1.8 seconds a🦹drift of 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, with only team-mate Andrea Dovizioso going slower. 

꧙Given the performanꦯce shown by both Monster Energy Yamaha riders - Quartararo topped both sessions while Franco Morbidelli was a consistent top ten runner, it’s no surprise Rossi ‘expected to be more competitive, to be stronger’. 

Speaking in his media debrief, Rossi added: "It was a difficult day today. I expected to be more competitive, to be stronger, but I didn’t have a good feeling with the tyres, especially on the rear.&nb𝄹sp;

"We don’t have enough grip. In the afternoon I also tried the hard rear because in 🥃April we put the hard rear and we did a very good step and also in the race I felt much better because it gave me better stabili💃ty and I could go faster. 

"But today it is still a bit too cold. So ﷺI tried the hard tyre but it didn't work. Under that point of view we are not rea🎃dy. 

"I hope that the conditions of the track and the weather can get bette𝓰r, also because the track is a bit slippery. So, we hope for this and to be faster."