Source: Supplied.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has labeled the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix’s October date as ‘dangerous’ following a dramatic opening day of practice at Phillip Island on Friday.

The Movistar Yamaha rider set the second-fastest time yesterday before it was removed for completing too many laps on Michelin’s extra soft front tyre, demoting him to 20th overall when FP2 was cancelled.

Phillip Island’s spring date – almost two months after the end of winter – has been questioned by Rossi and a wider selection of paddock onlookers, because of track temperatures that were as low as 12 degrees on day one.

“It’s a great shame, because it’s a great place and a fantastic track,” Rossi said. “The conditions were very, very much on the limit, not just because of the rain, but especially the low temperatures, so like this it’s very dangerous. You can be lucky like last year, but more times you can be unlucky.

“I am one of the riders that pushed to change the date of this grand prix, from five or six years ago, because it is a great shame to come here in the winter. It would be a shame anywhere, but here particularly because it’s a great track and if you have sun – also for television and for ride the bike – is something fantastic for MotoGP, but we come here in 10 degrees.”

It’s understood that the decision to host the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is related to the fact that the Australian Grand Prix Corporation runs the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne during March, however Rossi is adamant that shouldn’t stop the MotoGP being operated during a similar period in warmer weather.

“I push a lot, but [Dorna’s] Carmelo [Ezpeleta] always says to me it is impossible to modify the date because the Formula 1 is in March and the people that organise the Formula 1 are the same that organise the MotoGP.

“Is a shame because, for example in Japan it happens – one week is Formula 1 and the next MotoGP. This year also in Italy, Monza-Misano – full of people, everything is good. I think it’s a good idea to come here to start the championship in March or after Qatar, when we can have good weather. I try, but I don’t have enough power.”

Phillip Island is already the host of the long-standing Superbike World Championship season-opening round at the end of February, effectively book-ending the local racing season between then and the grand prix in October.