Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has pointed to a lack of bike development this year as a crucial part of Yamaha’s failure to retain the MotoGP world title in 2016.

The Doctor said that in 2014 and 2015, the factory were able to make steps forward which meant Rossi and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo could stay in the game but isn’t hasn’t been the case this year.

“The problem, especially compared to Honda, is that during the season we have some new stuff but unfortunately we are not able to make the step that we did in 2015, and also in 2014, during the season,” Rossi said at Phillip Island.

“At the end of those seasons we were strong, this season we are not able to. We need to follow some other way and I think we will see the new bike at Valencia, after the last race.

“We always speak a lot and I try to give my experience, my feeling to improve the bike. The relationship with Yamaha after a lot of seasons is very good to try and improve.”