Rossi Aims For Home Triumph

Eurosport.yahoo.com - Thu 28 Aug, 04:09 PM
Valentino Rossi is determined to build on his points lead in the MotoGP championship and make up for the disappointment of missing out at Misano last season.
Rossi's fans had to watch on as he failed to finish the race in San Marino last season because of a mechanical breakdown.
Rossi went on to lose his title battle with the Ducati Marlboro machine of Casey Stoner but the Italian has turned the tables on his Australian rival this season.
Victory last time out in the Czech Republic saw Rossi extend his points lead to 50 over Stoner.
It was the Australian who crashed out at Brno as Rossi took the race win and he aims to repeat that victory this time around at Misano.
Rossi's five-year title-winning streak came to an end two years ago and the Italian is aiming to give his home fans something to cheer about on Sunday with the circuit located close to his home town of Tavullia.
Even a finish of fifth or higher will take Rossi's points total for this season past the best he has achieved during the last two campaigns.
The 29-year-old said: "I'm really excited to be going to Misano in such good shape and leading the championship. "Last year the race was a huge disappointment for us, a very low point of the season and especially sad because it happened in front of my home fans.
"But this time things are very different; we've had two fantastic races in a row and we are feeling very strong and very confident. We are out to make up for 2007."
Rossi also aims to give his fans something to celebrate and is keeping his fingers crossed for good weather.
"Misano is so close to my home town of Tavullia that I know there will be an army of Italian fans there, and I hope it's going to be a great party for all of them.
"Last year there was some terrible weather before the race as well so I really hope that this year we have sunshine and we can enjoy a fantastic race by the sea."