Monster Energy Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi admitted that he needs more speed if he is to fight for the podium during the MotoGP race in Aragon.

The Italian has enjoyed a solid, if somewhat quiet weekend so far, and that was shown in qualifying with a sixth place start after posting a 1:48.015, just over a second off the pole position lap-time of Marc Marquez.

Rossi, who is still searching for his first podium since Austin back at the start of the season, admitted that he is looking for more speed if he is to challenge his team-mate Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo for a podium finish.

"At the end the results are not so bad,” said the Italian. 

“When you start from the first two rows it means that you can do a good race, because you're not so far from the pole position. The guys in front are all strong and also our pace is quite good.

“We still have to work. Today we tried some different things in FP4. To fight for the podium, I need a bit more speed, a few tenths, but we'll try because we're not far from the front.”

When asked about his qualifying lap, Rossi said that he made a couple of mistakes, but not that his grid position would have been any better had he not made the mistakes.

“I did a good lap; it wasn't so bad,” he said.

“I made one or two small mistakes, so I could have done a 1'47s, but it wouldn't have improved my position so it's OK."