Valentino Rossi came within 0.462s of claiming what would have been his 90th MotoGP victorꦛy at COTA on Sunday.

The Italian was handed the lead when Marc Marq🍎uez made his shock mistake on lap 9 and remaine📖d in front until four laps to go.

That was when Alex Rins - who had been shadowing the Italian - finally dived for the lead, Rossi crucially losing gro🐽und when he tried to swiftly retaliate under braking at the end of the back straight.

The Doctor dug deep, hunting down the Suzuki rider and was almost within striking distance as the pair entered the f🌠inal corners.

Rins' team manager Davide Brivio was seen holding his head in his hands as it looked like Rossi might be able to launch one of his famous last turn attacks, but the Spaniard remained just out of reac𝐆h.

"It's a mixed feeling," said Rossi, whose m𒅌ost recent win was at Assen 2017. "From one side, I’m very sorry because it's a long time that I don’t win, and today was a great opportunity.

"But on the other side, I’m happy because is a good race. I was strong also during the weekend and also last weekend in Argentina. These 20 points are very importa꧑nt for the championship, that is open, so it is more positive than negative.

"I tried to stay close to Marc [at the start] because I think that he would try to escape. I tried to ride well, stay close to him, but he wa😼s a bit faster than me. But anyway, I feel comfortable and I was good.

"After, when Marquez crashed, I was a little bit surprised sincerely and I think is a good opportunity 🦄to [win]. I tried to ride at the maximum, to ride smooth.

"W🤪as a good race because we are 🌌fast. My problem is that Rins at the end was faster. He ride very well. He’s good in braking.

"I think that if I do everything perfect, I can attack him one time on the last lap, but unfortunately I did two mistakes in braking and I take a little bit of disadvantage. But a♏nyway it remains a good race."

Marquez's error means Rossi is now second in the world championship and just three points behind new leader ൩Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati).

"The championship is very interesting, especially after the mistake of Marquez," Rossi said. "You have four different riders and four ⛦differ🔜ent bikes in nine points.

"Now we go back to ♛Europe. I love to r🎀ace in Europe for sure because I know very well all the tracks.

"Jerez is very difficult. In the past in ‘17 and ‘18 was a disaster for us, for Yamahaꦗ. We were slow. So, it’s very interesting understand if this year we can be more competitive also there."