2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi may be the bookies favourite for the premier class title this season, but the Italian is a beatable foe for the rest of the riders on the grid. The last man to do so, ex-titlist Casey Stoner, has a reasoned outlook on the chances of coming home ahead of the Fiat Yamaha rider, based on his performances at the end of last year.
“To beat Valentino we don’t need anything more than what we had at the end of last season,” stated Stoner. “If things go right then we know that we are fast enough to win. We’re not alone either; Dani (Pedrosa) can do it, Jorge (Lorenzo) can do it, and there’s probably a couple of others that can push us as well.”
With that in mind, don’t expect outlandish excuses from Stoner should he fall behind in the title chase. Short shrift will also be given to anyone putting their poor form down to lack of familiarity with their 2009 bikes.
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