Motorsport
Rossi gunning for victory
2008-10-16 11:39
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Kuala Lumpur - Newly crowned MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is gunning for victory at this weekend's Malaysian event as he and rival Casey Stoner battle for the last points of the season.
The 29-year-old Italian ace clinched his sixth world premier-class title at last month's Japanese Grand Prix, edging out Australian defending champion Stoner in Motegi.
Rossi is the most successful rider at Sepang with four victories and is favourite to win again on Sunday, with the Malaysian event the penultimate race.
After 16 GPs and with another 50 points up for grabs, Rossi has 332 points while Stoner stands at 245.
With two races still to go, it makes it possible for Rossi to set a new record for the highest number of points achieved in a racing season.
The current record of 367 points is held jointly between Rossi in 2005 (from 17 races) and Stoner last year (from 16 races).
Rossi, who finished fifth here last year, said he was eyeing a win in Malaysia and in the final race for 2008 in Valencia on October 26.
"I want to achieve two good results. I want to be on the podium," he told reporters ahead of Sunday's race.
But Rossi warned that the wet weather could be a problem -- there are predictions for heavy thunderstorms and rain over the weekend.
"If it rains like this (heavy bursts of rainfall in the afternoon) during the course of the weekend, it will be difficult to race.
"There will be a lot of water on the tracks," he added.
The Italian added that Malaysia would be exciting as Ducati rider Stoner, who won the last outing in Phillip Island, would attempt to spoil his party.
"We know that Casey will be very strong again as well as others so it will no doubt be a good battle," he said.
"I love Malaysia and I have had some great races here in the past, plus it generally suits our bike very well so with any luck we can look forward to a fun weekend."
Stoner, who will undergo an operation on an old scaphoid injury when the season finishes, has won in Sepang in all three world championship classes on previous visits, and is confident of another podium place.
"I like the track and I've got good memories because I've won there in every category," said the Australian.
"(But) it is a very difficult track. It is demanding. We have to wait and see how the weather is going to be," he said.
With his 36-point advantage over Honda's Dani Pedrosa, Stoner could finalise his runner-up place in the standings on Sunday.
Sepang is one of the widest tracks on the MotoGP calendar, measuring 16 metres (52 feet) across in some areas, and always features high track temperatures in the tropical climate.
The track has four major hairpins and some fast and frequent changes of direction in its 5.542-kilometre (3.44-mile) layout and is arguably the most demanding race of the year for riders, bikes and tyres.
Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden are also aiming to be on the podium. Both men have scored top-three finishes in the last two races, and they are optimistic of strong results at Sepang.
"We are looking forward to Malaysia where I am determined to make up for the mistake I made in the last race," said Spain's Pedrosa.
US rider Hayden, who is placed sixth after scoring his second podium of the year with a rousing ride to third place in the Australian Grand Prix, said he was also eyeing success.
"Sepang is a great track. I like it, our bike has been running good, and you need a bike that's running fast there. (I) just need to keep it rolling," he said.
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