German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi reckons German challenge tougher than Assen

Valentino Rossi reckons starting from sixth place for tomorrow’s German MotoGP will be a much tougher proposition than when he surged from 11th to win last month’s Dutch MotoGP in Assen. 

The seven-times world champion will start at the back of the second row of the grid after today’s final qualifying session that saw main title rival Casey Stoner (Marlborough Ducati) claim his second pole position of 2007.

Valentino Rossi won from 10th place on the grid a year ago at the Sachsenring but he said tomorrow’s 30-lap would be significantly harder, particularly with Stoner’s reputation for being a lightning fast starter.

The Fiat Yamaha rider said: “Sixth is not a bad place. If you make a good start you are not very far away. Eleventh is more difficult for sure but they are two different race tracks.

“In Assen it was easier to make the difference, but here it is more of a race tenth by tenth, so maybe its more difficult starting from sixth here than eleventh in Assen.”