We must not relax - Rossi

Valentino Rossi has urged his Gauloises Yamaha team not to “sit back and relax” despite winning the first race of the season.

Rossi, a three-time world champion, had been expected to struggle in his first race with Yamaha after a successful spell at Honda but he surprised the MotoGP paddock with a stunning display in South Africa.

His victory puts him in his accustomed position at the top of the championship standings and the Italian is keen to ensure he stays there.

The Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez gives Rossi the chance to return to a track he knows well from pre-season testing but he refuses to ease off in his pursuit of success.

He said: “It was such a great moment in Welkom but we must not let that stop us from continuing to work as hard when we arrive in Jerez, and at least we already have some experience with the Jerez circuit.

“It’s a circuit that I like quite a lot, it holds many happy memories for me and also my favourite corner of any track is at Jerez, the last right hand turn before the hairpin.

“Obviously after our success in Welkom I am really looking forward to Jerez. Our tests went well there so it will be interesting to see if we can be on top for the race as well.

“We are ahead of where I was expecting us to be at this stage so even more reason why we should not sit back and relax.

“Welkom was such a close race and the Honda bike and Honda riders are obviously really competitive, there is not much between us. Anyway, we will of course be aiming for a podium again, as we will at every race this year.”

Reigning British Superbike champion Shane Byrne was the leading Briton at Welkom on his Grand Prix debut but the Londoner was still not satisfied.

He picked up the first point of his MotoGP career but feels he has much more speed to come.

The Aprilia rider said: “I just need more experience in MotoGP. I was finding it hard to do consistent laps at Welkom. One lap I’d go into a corner perfect and the next not quite so good.

“It was a fair start to the season in Welkom and I’m looking forward to Jerez. I had my very first ride on the Aprilia there last year and so at least I know my way round.

“We had some chatter problems there but hopefully they will be cured on Sunday.”

Neil Hodgson’s return to MotoGP ended in retirement when his D’Antin Ducati failed him and he will look for his first finish of the season, while Byrne’s team-mate Jeremy McWilliams is aiming to improve on 16th place at Welkom.

In the 250cc world championship, Welsh youngster Chaz Davies is gunning for his first finish of the season after crashing out on lap one last time out.

He said: “I hurt my arm in the crash at Welkom but I rode for an hour on my supermoto bike at the weekend and it was fine.

“We tested at Jerez last month and had some chassis problems. We’ve sorted them out and I want to race at Jerez for some championship points after such a long trip to South Africa only to be brought down on the first bend.”