Valentino Rossi may have tur෴ned 🧜his 2012 fortunes around in the Le Mans rain, but fellow struggling factory rider Ben Spies (Yamaha) continued to endure a torrid start to the new season.

E💫xpected to build on a debut MotoGP victory last season, Spies came into the new s♕eason looking strong after solid winter testing performances on the new Superbike-sized 1000cc M1.

But the Texan has endured a relentless run of bad luck in the events so far, scoring just 18 (out of a potential 75) points during the opening three rounds, then suf🔴fering his first non-score of th𝓰e year at Le Mans. A race won by team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

Spies' French Grand Prix went wrong just metres from the start, when he got sideways on a white line. Finishing the first lap in 18th place, the former World Superbike champion then suffered vision problem🐽s - forcing a pit 𒅌stop.

Spies crossed the finish line in 1🌜6th place,🗹 one place outside the points.

"That was a rough race," said Spies. "We actually got off to a good start at the beginning then had a very big moment on the line, 🐻something happened because then I had quite a lot of water coming in through my helmet and couldn't see much on the first five laps.

"I hoped it would get better but I couldn't see anything and decided to come in because I need to see where I am going. I knew the race was gone by then so w📖ent back out to try and get some data and get better working with the bike in the rain. Circumstances meant it wasn't a good day."

"We we🌳re expecting a different race but unfortunately this bad luck doesn't want to disappear," added team director Massimo Meregalli. "We're looking forward to Barcelona, 📖we won't give up and we will get back up to where we belong with Ben."