Valentino Rossi: Speed trumps psychology

When one rider dominates, do his opponents become psychologically beaten before a wheel has even turned?

Not according to former seven time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi, who believes it is more a case of the winning rider feeding off his own success.

"I always think it is not true, sincerely," said the Italian. "In the past when I won a lot of races they said I had a psychological dominance or some effect over the other riders. But for me, like in football but especially in motorsport when Schumacher won, the most important is the speed on the track.

"If you are the fastest on the track, you also become stronger mentally. But if you are strong mentally, but not fast enough, it is for nothing."

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez's perfect ten race sweep finally came to an end last time at Brno. Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Rossi were the three riders who finally finished ahead of Marquez in the Czech Republic.