Championship memories spur Rossi
Added on Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Championship memories spur Rossi
Valentino Rossi is hoping that the memories of last season’s championship celebrations at Motegi will spur him in the season’s second round in Japan this weekend.
Rossi spent 22 laps staring at the back of title rival Casey Stoner at the Qatar Grand Prix two weeks ago as Ducati demonstrated their speed advantage over the new Yamaha M1 and whilst Stoner has never won at Motegi, Ducati do have a very strong record at the ‘Twin Ring’ after winning three races on the bounce between 2005 and 2007 with then-rider Loris Capirossi.
But more recently, Japan was the venue when Rossi finally secured his eighth world championship, beating Stoner to wrap up the title with three rounds still to go of the 2008 season and with those celebrations still fresh in the memory, the Italian is in buoyant mood.
“My memories of last year at Motegi are incredible, because it was such a special victory after two years without the championship,” said the 30 year old.
“This year of course will be very different, it’s only the second race and it will be quite strange going there so early in the championship.
“In Qatar we had one or two small areas that could have been better, so we will be trying hard to improve our setting during the practice time so that we’re able to run at the front on Sunday. I expect that Stoner will be strong again, so we just need to reduce the gap to him so that we can put up more of a fight.
“In the past Motegi hasn’t been a great track for me and I’ve had some bad races there, but I think last year cancelled that all out so I hope it can be successful for us once again this year.”
