Rossi ups his game after rivals challenge
Added on Thursday, September 10th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Rossi ups his game after rivals challenge
Valentino Rossi has admitted that the challenge from teammate Jorge Lorenzo and the improvement across the rest of the MotoGP paddock has forced him to push himself to another level.
The eight-time world champion believes that the improvement seen in the likes of Yamaha Lorenzo, Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and Ducati’s Casey Stoner is forcing him to up his game, resulting in a higher quality MotoGP championship.
Rossi currently stands 30 points ahead of Lorenzo at the top of the rider’s championship but has been pushed hard all season by the young Spaniard, not least in thrilling last-lap battles in Barcelona and at Sachsenring whilst Pedrosa and Stoner have both had successes this season.
And Rossi told Autosport.com that the championship is benefitting hugely from a championship win which four riders are all potential world champions.
“I think this year the level is incredible,” he claimed.
“It is very high – especially the first four. First four are potentially world champion level. Because me, Lorenzo, Stoner and Pedrosa have enough performance in the throttle and the head to win the MotoGP championship.
“Also the bikes are very fast – Yamaha, Honda and Ducati are very strong – so this creates a high level of championship.”
“It is a great, great motivation for trying to improve,” said Rossi. “Like with Stoner in 2007 and ’08 I have to make a step. I have to make a clear improvement and to make an improvement at 29 years of age you have to work and struggle a lot – and make something more than in the past.
“And this year it is the same with Lorenzo. He is also my team-mate, with the same bike, so it means more concentration, more time dedicated to try and win. It is difficult, it is bad when you lose, but it is a lot, lot more exciting when you are able to win.”
