With 37 wins, Rossi has now had more success with Yamaha than any other factory in his career - Rossi rode for Aprilia in the 125 and 250cc classes as well as Honda in
MotoGP - and is also Yamaha's most successful rider, having scored 13 more premier-class wins for the factory than 'king'
Kenny Roberts.
"I am so happy that I have now won three titles with Yamaha because this is how many I won with my last team and I want Yamaha to have the same merit - I am a Yamaha rider and I feel different with Yamaha than with anyone else before - I hope we will have more together!" he smiled. "Now I have to get used to being world champion again!”
Rossi believes he is now riding better than at any point in his grand prix career, but forecasts an even tougher title fight in 2009.
"I think 2009 will be even more difficult than this year," he said. "Now I am the world champion again and I have demonstrated that I am still very fast. I think I rode the best of my career this year apart from the mistake in Assen, but next year is another story, it depends on how the winter is and how Stoner, Pedrosa and also Lorenzo are next year, as well as the other riders because there are many fast people in this championship. I think it will be a great championship and I'm looking forward to it, but first I want to finish this year and try to win the final three races!"
And what of the long term future?
"As I said, there are many strong riders but of course I hope that in the future nobody will win like Valentino Rossi!" he declared. "Maybe my brother Luca will be as strong as me... I wanted to take him on my bike on the celebration lap, but they did not allow it.
"Maybe I will wait for him to be a MotoGP rider before quitting, then I will beat him in the first year, and then I will stop riding!"
Rossi is due to ride an early version of the 2009 YZR-M1 at Motegi on Monday, before heading for next weekend's Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.
