Rossi admits to being pushed all the way by Lorenzo
Added on Monday, October 26th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Rossi admits to being pushed all the way by Lorenzo
Valentino Rossi claimed that he has been pushed to “new limits” this season after he notched up his ninth world championship in Sepang yesterday.
Rossi secured the championship with a third place finish in Malaysia, successfully defending his crown after some superb battles with Jorge Lorenzo – not least in Barcelona and Sachsenring – and the Italian was quick to praise the challenge from the his teammate
“It’s great to be World Champion again, I am very proud to have done this nine times in my career,” said Rossi. “I want to thank everyone in my team, Furusawa-san, Davide Brivio, Lin Jarvis, Jeremy…everybody!
“This season has been very hard and Lorenzo especially has pushed me to new limits, but I think it’s been a great duel for everyone to watch.
“Today was unbelievable, when the rain came it was scary for everyone because all the work we’d done was then useless and we were riding ‘blind’ with the setting. I made a mistake at the first corner and then I was a long way back, so I think I did a great race to finish third! I was going to try to pass Dovizioso when he fell and then for a few laps I thought I would try to get Pedrosa but with wet tyres on a drying track it was a bit risky by then and so I decided to be safe.
“It’s a fantastic feeling to take this title with Yamaha again and I also must thank Bridgestone, who have done a great job with the tyres all year.
Rossi also took the time to explain yet another flamboyant celebration, this time using a rubber chicken and an egg, adding: “My celebration was because in Italy we say an old chicken makes good soup but can no longer lay eggs! I am like the old chicken – 30 years now – but I have made another egg! That’s nine!”
