Estoril MotoGP: Valentino Rossi taking nothing for granted

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi insists he will be taking nothing for granted as he aims to take a giant stride towards his seventh world title in Portugal this weekend.

Rossi leads a title race that has already seen several dramatic twists and turns by 30-points over Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo when the series resumes in Estoril this weekend.

Winner of the last race in Misano, Rossi is looking for a seventh victory of 2009 in Estoril to bolster his title hopes, but he said: “We’re in the final stage of the championship and we have a strong position but, as we’ve seen throughout this season, anything can happen and we know that the championship is far from over yet.

“The next three races are all good tracks for us and my team and I will aim to get as many points as possible each time and then we will see where we are in Valencia! Last year we struggled a little in Estoril but it’s been a great track for me in the past, especially with Yamaha, and it’s a place that usually produces good, close racing so I hope that’s the case again this year.”

Rossi is also looking forward to the prospect of racing Ducati rival Casey Stoner again for the first time since the British GP at Donington Park in late June.

Stoner will be back on board his factory GP9 machine in Estoril and Rossi said: “I also hope to see Casey back in good shape and recovered because the championship misses him.”