Valentino Rossi arrives at his home Italian MotoGP at Mugello just 19th in the world championship, hav🦩ing scored nine points from his five races as a Petronas Yamaha♐ rider.

The Doctor at least took his best finish so far with eleven💎th in the hectic Le Mans flag-to-flag race, but believes the mixed weather conditions during the French weekend prevented him from confirming improvements found at the previous Jerez Test.

That quest will now continue a💙t Mugello, where Rossi delighted the local fans by winning seven race💙s in a row from 2002-2008 and last stood on the podium in 2018.

"I was able to fight for be🔯tter positions and be within the top-ten at Le Mans, but we suffered in the mixed conditions on Sunday. I felt better with the bike as well, so it was a shame it was a confusing race like that," Rossi said.

"Hopefully the weather will be more consi🥀stent this weekend at Mugello and we will be able to con🔜firm the improvements from the Jerez Test.

"It is a fantastic t💧rack and fortunately I have many good memories there. It is always special so I’m really looking forward to being there next, although it is a shame that there will be no fans at the circuit because they are always great there and give us a lo♎t of support.

"It is always nice to see them in the grandstands. It is a great tr🌠ack, the Italian Grand Prix so we just look forward to being there."

As is now traditional for the Italian rounds, Rossi is expected to unveil a special helmet d𓄧esign on Saturday morning.