Image: Supplied.

Valentino Rossi admits he’s still satisfied with his performance at Sepang’s penultimate round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship, despite coming up short on earning a podium result.

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider displayed a surge in form during the Malaysian grand prix as he set a new in race lap record, however a battle for third with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) in the closing stages of the 20-lap encounter ultimately saw the multi-time world champion forced to accept P4.

“I had a good start, but then on the first straight some riders overtook me,” Rossi commented. “After that I was very competitive. I managed to set the fastest race lap, a new track record, and made several overtakes, until I got close to Dovizioso.

“Together with Dovizioso we had a good fight – it was very nice. I was a little better in the twisty parts of the track, but Dovizioso was faster on the straights. I hoped that I could be quicker on the last laps, but I couldn’t. We are faster in the turns, but it is also true that we stress the tyres more when we are cornering.

“So, at the end I wasn’t as fast as I was at the beginning, but I’m happy because the degradation was less than usual. At the end I’m satisfied, because during this weekend I rode well, and I learned a few things. We are making improvements, trying to use all the potential of the M1. At the end I managed to keep off Rins, but I’m very sorry because I didn’t make the podium, then I would have been even happier.”

Rossi sits seventh in the championship standings ahead of Valencia’s finale on 17 November in Spain.