Valentino Rossi did not have the pace to catch and run with Australian MotoGP winner Cal Crutchlow at Phillip Island, and admits the Brit was just too strong.

The Doctor finished second some four seconds adrift of the LCR Honda rider and just over a second ahead of Maverick Vinales, but says that even after Marc Marquez crashed out there was precious little he could do to catch Crutchlow.

“When I saw Marquez crash I think that I can win – I try but unfortunately for me Cal was too fast, was too strong,” he said. “He’s always very fast at Phillip Island, he’s always interpreted this track in the maximum way.”

As the bad weather which had plagued Friday and Saturday cleared ahead of today’s race action, it was a much happier looking Italian who hit the track in morning warm up, finishing second quickest behind Marquez.

“This morning when I wake up and I open the window I was already more happy but especially the warm up give to me a lot of positive power and a lot of relax because I know that I have a good pace and I know I can make a good race and I can arrive on the podium, that was the target.

“I try to stay concentrate, try not to make a mistake at the beginning like in Motegi because the race was very long and I think the first 10 laps are very good, I enjoy very much and when I arrive behind Cal, he was my target because I think I can beat him because this morning I was a bit stronger than him.

“For me the second half of the race was more difficult to do but this race, this day is what we needed after the mistake in Motegi and after the bad day of yesterday that I think was the most frustrating day of the season. It is very good for me, for the team, for Yamaha because it was a good race.”

Looking ahead to the last two races, Rossi insists building his lead over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo for second place in the championship is not the priority, but instead he wants to concentrate on podiums.

“I’m happy I recover some points but what I want to do is try to make good races from here to the end and try to fight for the podium.

“Sepang will be another great challenge because for sure it’s a tougher race of the season, it’s very hot, you have to prepare well, sleep well, drink well and try to be hydrated because it’s difficult. But usually we are quite strong, and our target is to try and fight for the podium.”