Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expecting Jorge Lorenzo backlash

Valentino Rossi fears a backlash from factory Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP race.

Lorenzo has given himself a mountain to climb to win the 2009 premier class title having crashed out of the lead in the last two races.

The Spaniard’s blunders have effectively killed off his world title hopes this season with 30-year-old Rossi heading to America holding a comfortable 50-point cushion over Lorenzo.

But having ended intense speculation about his future by signing a new one-year contract with Yamaha earlier this week, eight-time world champion Rossi is expecting a strong finish to the season from his chief rival.

“Jorge will never give up until the maths say it is impossible for him to win the world championship.

“It’s normal that a rider with a 50-point disadvantage says that the title is finished, but this is not true and I expect him to be very strong.

“Now he can race more freely with less pressure for the world championship, so it might be more difficult to beat him.

“But I have to make sure I don’t make any mistakes because 50-points is a good advantage but it is not enough,“ said Rossi.