Honda veteran backs Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa

Honda veteran Tadayuki Okada reckons the 2008 MotoGP title fight will be a two-horse race between Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa.

The Japanese rider, who made his first MotoGP appearance in eight years last weekend in Mugello to debut Honda’s new pneumatic valve motor, has played down the title hopes of reigning world champion Casey Stoner and rookie Jorge Lorenzo.

“Okada, who was a former team-mate to Aussie legend Mick Doohan in the Repsol Honda squad, said: “Last year Casey Stoner won the championship but I think he had the advantage of the tyre regulation and Michelin was struggling. Of course Casey did a good job but Bridgestone’s tyres had a more broader range tyre.

“I think that Valentino Rossi has the broader technique and talking about Honda, we have only won one race so far, so we have more to improve. But I think that the fight for the title will be between Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa.”

Asked what he thought about the impact made by Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo had been, Okada said the advances in electronics had made the switch from the 250GP class easier.

“Jorge, who has come from 250GPs, can win after just three races. Now the MotoGP electronics control is very important and the 250 riders who come to MotoGP can win straightaway, “added Okada.