Valentino Rossi can’t relax despite big points lead

Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha boss Davide Brivio reckons the Italian can’t afford to relax in the last six races of 2008, despite holding a comfortable 50-point advantage over rival Casey Stoner.

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Rossi’s fifth win of the season in Brno last weekend, coupled with Stoner’s rare mistake that saw him crash out of the lead, leaves the 29-year-old a red-hot favourite to clinch his sixth premier class crown.

But Brivio has said there is no way Rossi will be holding back with Ducati rider Stoner still a big threat.

“A fifty point lead is important but there are six more races and anything can happen and we just have to work and not relax.

“In the last couple of races we really pushed very hard on the setting and our working in the garage. Such a big lead maybe means that if in some races we are in trouble we can maybe take it easy and finish second or third if we are in difficulty.

“So in this sense it is easier but there are 150 points available so we have to continue in this way and you can’t rule out Casey, “Brivio told MCN.