Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales emerged from a difficult season to top the Valencia MotoGP timesheets on day one of testing but with myriad engine and chassis configurations to explore, they still don’t have a base bike to work from.

Yamaha’s works outfit was firmly in the spotlight with seven bikes in the garage: four for Vinales and three for Rossi, showing that they are taking the preparation for the 2018 season very seriously and they need to catch up and close the gap from the rivals.

Rossi was down to two very quickly, as he crashed a 2018-engined 2016 chassis at turn ten early doors but recovered to set the fourth fastest time after testing a new aero package that mimics that of Jorge Lorenzo’s Ducati.

“It was a positive day. I was able to be fast and finished fourth. We tested again the 2016 chassis and found the correct balance that we hadn’t found on Sunday warm up because of lack of time. Once again I had the confirmation that I’m faster on the 2016, but the tyre degradation is wore compared to the 2017 version,” said Rossi, speaking at the track.

“Regarding the 2017 chassis, we tried the whole season to reproduce the positive effects of the 2016 bike but without results. It is also true that the 2017 has other positive sides. The truth is that I have clear ideas, I explained the Japanese engineers my feelings but then they will decide the direction to follow and at the moment I don’t know what they have decided. They don’t tell us, but this is normal. It has always been like this. At the moment we don’t know which one will be the base of the 2018 bike. I would like to keep the good points of the 2016 chassis."

Rossi was not able to properly assess the 2018 engine as he put it in the gravel, losing the front on a cold tyre. “I crashed and the bike was destroyed. It was a pity because this was the prototype and the base for the development of the new engine, so it was important to test it. Anyway, it seems that we can use it on day two, so I’m confident”. Rossi also tested one of the new rear tyres that Michelin brought at Valencia. “Yes I tried a soft option. It was similar but all in all with some positive aspects.”

It was a busy day also on the other side of the garage with Vinales testing the 2017 version in the morning and the 2016 chassis in the afternoon, putting in 80 laps. “The feeling is that the two chassis are very similar. I was able to be fast and consistent today.”

Was this a reassuring comment or does it open new doubts? “This year I want to trust more my feeling and what I think is right,” said the Spaniard, determined to return to the level of confidence he had at the beginning of the season.