Qatar stages the first race of 2009 on Monday morning (EST) under floodlights at the Losail International Circuit, the first of 17 round to decide who will be king of this year’s premier motorcycle racing class.
And the Rossi- Stoner rivalry will be head-on from race one, in which Rossi will be chasing his first MotoGP race victory after sunset. The Fiat Yamaha rider finished fifth behind Stoner in the corresponding race last year, one of only two races in which he finished off the podium for the year.
The pair took the top two placings in last season’s series, with Rossi on his Yamaha finishing 93 points ahead of the 2007 world champion with nine race wins, taking him past Giacomo Agostini’s record 69 career victories.
“Whoever is going to be my toughest rival ... if it’s everyone it’s everyone but if it’s one in particular you just have to beat them,” said Stoner who, along with Rossi, has clinched 29 of the 36 races since the series switched to 800cc bikes in 2007.
“I just need to do the best job I can and try and get my fitness back to its peak and understand the new bike and start the season strong like last year but this time keep it going.”
Rossi, too, has endured fitness problems, although his came in bizarre circumstances when he fell while hanging curtains at his home, leaving him with stitches in his hand and bruises to his pride.
“Qatar isn’t one of our strongest tracks but we still have a few cards to play and I hope that a little more work will see us improve for the first race,” said Rossi, the winner at the Losail track in 2005 and 2006.
“I’m feeling confident,” Rossi said.
“We’re in good shape even if we’re going to what was our worst track during testing. I am happy about the performance of my M1 in general. Yamaha have done a great job and so this makes me happy.”
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