SHANGHAI (AFP) – World champion Valentino Rossi said he isn’t keen on the Shanghai International Circuit, calling it a Formula One track not ideal for MotoGP racing.

"My first impressions of the circuit were very good but after riding on it I must admit it wasn’t as much fun as I expected," said the flamboyant Italian.

"It is actually quite tight and technical and is very much a Formula One track, so all the riders have a lot of hard work to do finding the right setting for bikes here.

"It is not ideal for a MotoGP bike."

The circuit, with a long, fast straight, but tight, slow corners, also left Rossi’s Yamaha teammate Colin Edwards less than thrilled.

"This is an awesome place but the track is not what I expected," he said.

"It doesn’t really link together and it’s kind of split up into four separate sections."

MotoGP is in Shanghai for the first time after the new circuit was inaugurated last year with a maiden Formula One race, which won rave reviews from the drivers.

Other MotoGP riders had mixed feelings about the track after experiencing it for the first time ahead of Sunday’s race, the third leg of the world championships.

"The Shanghai track is very technical and very slow, practically all the corners are first or second gear," said Honda rider Alex Barros, the winner in Portugal two weeks ago.

"There is a long straight where you reach maximum speed but then there are some really hard braking areas. It is good for overtaking manoeuvres, because the braking zone is a lot bigger, and you have more chances to make passes."

His Honda teammate Troy Bayliss said he liked it, but would prefer faster corners, while Italian Max Biaggi called it "interesting."

"The track is very technical and I like it, it’s an interesting challenge," said Biaggi, who will race his 200th Grand Prix in Shanghai.

"But for sure, the race won’t be easy."

Designed by renowned architect Hermann Tilke, the Shanghai facility arose from a swamp and features a 5.45 kilometre track, the longest on the world championship calendar.

MotoGP has signed a deal to race in Shanghai for seven years.