Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi believes his chances of claiming the 2017 MotoGP world title are all but over as there are too many points to catch up on a bike that is not competitive enough.

The nine-time champion is 33 points behind Marc Marquez with 175 left on the table but he hasn’t seen the podium since Assen and has only won one race this year. Tyre life has been the problem for both Rossi and team-mate Maverick Vinales, something the two worked on at a private Misano test at the weekend.

“I don’t see myself in the fight for the championship because there are many points and we are not competitive enough. Before thinking about reducing the deficit to Dovizioso and Marquez, I would like to be as competitive as them and fight for the podium. That is my goal,” said Rossi, speaking at Silverstone.

“It will depend on each circuit, but we are in a difficult moment technically. Regarding the championship, I think it will be really hard.”

Rossi added that a solution to the tyre life issue may have been found at the test, where the two riders did more than 180 laps. A version of the 2018 bike was also available but Rossi said he didn’t think they would use it before next year.