Italian motorcycling superstar Valentino Rossi warns it will only get tougher to stop rival Casey Stoner after he regained the world crown by pipping the defending champion.
The Yamaha ace, dubbed the Doctor for his cool and clinical planning and racing, credited the 22-year-old Australian as being perhaps the toughest opponent he has ever battled.
“I think Stoner next year will be back stronger again,” Rossi, 29, said as he wrapped up his sixth premier-class title, and the first in three years, at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi on September 29.
“So maybe he is the hardest rival I have ever had, more than (Sete) Gibernau and all the others I fought against in the past.”
Gibernau was the main challenger for Rossi’s crown until 2005. The Spanish firebrand retired when Stoner replaced him at Ducati for 2007. It was in Motegi that Stoner crushed Rossi’s title hopes last year when the Australian finished sixth and the Italian dropped to 13th with brake trouble.
“Last year I was sorry that after so many successful years, some people thought Valentino was finished and Casey was the new Valentino,” said Rossi.
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