Rossi, Stoner set to renew rivalry
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Fresh from their epic dogfight at the US GP at Laguna Seca, Valentino Rossi and reigning world champion Casey Stoner promised more of the same at this weekend's Czech Republic Grand Prix in Brno.
"Last year we had a bad time at Brno," said Yamaha rider Rossi.
"This year, however, we're going there in a very different frame of mind: leading the championship, following a great win (the USGP) and with our bike and tyres working very well.
"I am really looking forward to going racing again. I know that Brno is going to be hard and that Casey will be a formidable competitor once again," added the seven-time world champion.
"We're going to have to work at the maximum from the first practice ... We have seven races left and I am dreaming of them all being as fun as Laguna."
In that race, Stoner and Rossi wowed the American public with a first-class display of committed riding, with the Australian coming off the circuit with eight laps remaining to hand the advantage to Rossi.
"I think I am going to hopefully just be putting up more of a fight in the last few laps this time, whereas I ran off and crashed at the last race," said Stoner.
"It would be nice if I can put pressure on right up until the last lap."
Pedrosa to battle on
Spain's Dani Pedrosa vowed to ride through the pain barrier in Brno a bid to bounce back into contention.
Pedrosa was flying high at the top of the drivers' standings holding a commanding lead over rivals Stoner and Rossi until disaster struck at last month's German GP.
The Spaniard, five searing seconds in front, crashed in the wet Sachsenring conditions, breaking his left wrist and a finger.
That injury ruled the Honda rider out of Laguna Seca a week later - meaning he failed to pick any points in two races - to slip to third in the championship.
"It's going to be tough, because at the moment the level is high," said the Spaniard.
"We have to improve our whole package to be fast at every track. It's only a month since the operation (on his hand) but I hope it can be better and better, because sometimes you can feel pain for longer when you are pushing so hard."
- AFP
