Valentino Rossi hopes to take a step closer to a ninth world title on Sunday with victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix which could deliver a fatal blow to the hopes of teammate Jorge Lorenzo.
With four races left this season, Rossi has a 30-point lead over fellow Yamaha rider Lorenzo and arrives in Estoril buoyed by his sixth win of the season at San Marino four weeks ago before the summer break.
The 30-year-old Rossi is also the most successful rider in Grand Prix history at the track, having stood on the podium on all of his nine visits, including five wins.
But last year, it was Lorenzo who commanded the headlines, clinching his maiden win in the elite MotoGP class, relegating Rossi to second spot.
"We're in the final stage of the championship and we have a strong position but, as we've seen throughout this season, anything can happen and we know that the championship is far from over yet," said Rossi.
"The next three races are all good tracks for us and my team and I will aim to get as many points as possible each time and then we will see where we are in Valencia (the season's last race).
"Last year we struggled a little in Estoril but it's been a great track for me in the past, especially with Yamaha, and it's a place that usually produces good, close racing so I hope that's the case again this year."
Lorenzo has three wins this season and has fond memories of Estoril, where he took his first elite-class win as well as his third consecutive pole.
"Now we go to Estoril, where I had one of the best moments of my life," said the 22-year-old.
"In the past I was never strong there but last year I did an unbelievable race. This year it's a different situation; a different time of year, everyone has the same tyres and we are in the closing stages of the championship."
Sunday's race also sees the return of Australia's 2007 world champion Casey Stoner, who has missed three races with a mystery virus.
Ducati rider Stoner, 23, was lying third in the overall standings behind Rossi and Lorenzo when he had to sit out the trio of races and has since slipped to fourth.
Since resting up in his homeland - fishing among other things in the Northern Territory - Stoner has put on weight and is now back to 60kg, close on his ideal racing weight.
"I'm looking forward to the race weekend. Having three races off is the biggest period away from racing in my life. It was very difficult to accept the advice of the doctors to stop racing," said Stoner.
source © 2009 AFP
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pertamax... Rossi mang numero uno
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