Valentino Rossi looking to bounce back in Germany

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi reckons it will be vital he bounces straight back from the disappointment of crashing in the last race when he returns to action in Germany this weekend.

Rossi surrendered the world championship lead to Spaniard Dani Pedrosa when he crashed on the first lap of last month’s Dutch GP. He recovered to finish 11th, but is confident of a return to form at the Sachsenring this weekend.

The German GP was one of the lowest points of a tough 2007 for the Italian, who crashed out of the race to hand a huge points lead to Ducati rival Casey Stoner.

The 29-year-old said: “Last year in Sachsenring I made a mistake and crashed, and at the last race in Assen I also made a mistake, so I hope that I’ve now had my bad moment for this year!

“Sachsenring has been a great track for me in the past and it’s a great place to race at; it’s very tight and twisty but it generally suits the Yamaha very well and in 2006 I had a fantastic race there, winning from 11th.

“We are going there having lost our championship lead but we’re only four points behind so the situation is certainly much better than it was at this point last season.

“I was disappointed with myself in Assen because I missed a great chance but I have put that behind me and I am completely focused on the next race now. We need to be at 100 per cent from the first practice and hopefully we can have a good weekend with no more mistakes.”