MOTOGP » Rossi leaves Brno beaming

Steve that is true that Rossi just needs to make sure he's comfortable to make the M1 do what he wants and to make sure he's on a similar pace (albeit a little slower)to Stoner. With 6 races to go thats 150 points and conceivably Rossi could get 2nd place in all these races and still win the Championship. Rossi is a smart champion and I'm sure when things are right he'll go for wins and not just settle for 2nd or 3rd place. Plus there is the fun factor of beating a guy like Stoner to watch him implode.

I don't think rossi will be worried...

he knows he can finish 2nd at every race and he also knows how far him and stoner are ahead of the rest...

Rossi's gotta fancy winning 1 or 2 of the remaining races as well, he's a lot closer to stoner now, than he was in donnington..

It's gonna be interesting, but i fancy rossi to win in misano, its a home race and look how he's done in mugello...ok he didnt do well here last year, but that was no fault of his own..

I'm looking forward to it though!

Also, rossi didnt need to push in 2001..when he beat biaggi, but he did...he didnt need to at the same track in 2004 with gibernau..but he did...ok 2006 was a bit of a mess, but it wasnt exactly a wonderful season altogether..

I can't see anyone else winning the title this season, although i can see stoner making it difficult for rossi to win the remaning races.

For sure Valentino is in real good shape Morgue, does anyone know if the electronics upgrade made any big difference on rossis M1?

I know they said they found a few new tyres that worked well but the electronics they tried was not realy mentioned.

I think what we need to remember is this, in qualifying don't read too much into it, so long as Rossi is starting in the top 3 I would't be concerned.

Valentino has proved that if he can get a decent start then he can live with stoner in the race.

Can't wait for Misano which you can not see Rossi wanting any other than a win can you.

Rossi's 8th championship... whoopee. I'd be more impressed if Michelin didn't suck so bad this year, or if they ran a spec tire.

I'd even be more impressed if he did it on Michelins like he ought to have.

For someone as talented as Rossi you'd think the thrill of winning championships without a significant challenge would've worn off by now.

When he switched from Honda to Yamaha and won... that was impressive. Now he's just riding for the record books... how exciting.

I remember a race were gibernau commplained about rossi and they penalised him and pushes him back to the end and he still won the race,,he is a true champion determined to get the race done,,he does it for jerry the team the bike the mechanics and most of all the fans,,This one next wek is for his family cause last year he had heaps of problems like the tax man so he will wont to win this one for sure,,talented good sports man and great rider cant wait till italy comesnext week VAI DOTTORE SEI UN MITO BACI....

think your head might be in the clouds a bit there baby love..

gibernau and his team complained about rossi and the crew doin burnouts on a scooter at rossi starting position on the grid in qatar..

they also complained about biaggi as well, and both had to start from the back of the grid, rossi made a stupidly good start, something like 21st to 9th by the first corner, but he dropped it after he'd got to around 4th place..

Bored..rossi hasnt had it easy this year...ok, michelin haven't been up to par, and there isnt anyone who could win a championship on them michelin's, so bit of a silly comment to make...rossi and yamaha have come out and took it to ducati this year, fair play to em!

He may have moved over to a better tyre but it is still a new tyre and therefore not a disimilar challenge to trying to improve the michelins, maybe not quite as tough but a pretty decent challenge to take on none the less considering Stoner's form over the last 2 seasons on bridgestones, an instant bench mark he would be expected to meet. He could easily have been lining himself up for "you asked for the same tyres and Stoner still beat you"...

Jimmy Mansi - You are correct. He did indeed fall of when he got up to 4th at Qatar...

Nigel - I believe he said they found some small improvements in acceleration with the electronics.

Cheers Paul 46,
I know that's what they are looking at & it should be possible as they use the same brand of ECU as Ducati do.

As for the tyre debate well Rossi is not stupid & he had had the mis fortune of running those crap Michelins all year last year & knew they was not capable of winning a champoinship, now you have Danny letting off steam over them too, not only that they don't have valentino on board now do they.

Valentino and team should be commended for taking the challenge of using new tires without any existing data on them. They struggled in the beginning of the season but came around. Now it's a matter of getting the equipment on par with the Ducati. It seems that Rossi and team are getting closer which has obviously caused fits to Stoner. Hopefully next season we'll see more teams running up front. But as always I'd like to see Rossi win the Championship.