Yamaha took over from Honda at the top of th🉐e timesheets on day two of official 2018 testing at Sepang in Malaysia.

Movistar riders Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi were sepa🅰rated by just 0.035s at💎 the front, on a day when 0.392s covered the fastest nine riders.

"Today was a positive day because I have a📖lways a good feeling with the bike and I was quite competitive also in the pace," said Rossi, who beat his bes❀t Sunday time by almost one-second.

"We improved a lot the performance with the used tyre compare𒁏d to last year, that is very important, but you know the fight is very tight. Everybody is there. Also with the pa🗹ce, very close.

"So we need to concentrate very much on the small details for try to arrive in front. It's just the beginning but to start in a good way is very important. Last year๊ we start in a bad way and during all the season, with ups and downs, we struggle. Usually whe🍬n you start well it's better."

Rossi's strong start - in stark contrast to last year's forgettable pre-season - appears largely been down to a switch back to the 2016 chassis🦹 concept. The nine-time world champion explained they are trying to use the best parts of that frame as a base, while working on small modifications.

"T🧜he chassis is very similar to the [standard] 2016. The heart, the idea, is like the 2016 but we try to modify something around. And also today I try something with one chassis that was slightly different. Maybe tomorrow I have another one," said Rossi, who also rode his firs lap with the new Yamaha fairing on Mo♋nday (see separate story).

"We work because we don’t want to race with the [standard🍌] 2♐016, because it is the old chassis.

"In the test here in November we tried to understand what it is that I like about the 2016 chassis. What worked well. And I think that we have the idea more clear now, also Yamaha, and we try to work around 🐈the base of 2016."

In terms of his physical condওition after last year's broken leg, Rossi revealed:

"I can train in a good way. I also had ten days more than last year because last year I had to go around for Yamaha and this year I arrive in a better condition. I'm very happ🍸y because today I'𒁃m better than yesterday. Yesterday was difficult.

"But I'm still not 100%, especially with the breathing, because with the leg I cannot run still. So I need t🍎o work fꦏor March, but I am already at a good level. I think this test is difficult for everybody. Also the young riders."

Testing at Sepang concludes on Tuesday evening.