Valentino Rossi’s experience vital, says Wayne Gardner

Wayne Gardner believes Valentino Rossi’s vast experience has proven pivotal in the Italian’s 2009 MotoGP title fight against rising star Jorge Lorenzo.

The Aussie legend reckons Lorenzo has simply made too many mistakes to deny Rossi from romping to a seventh premier class crown in Malaysia this weekend. He told MCN: “Valentino is a good rider but also a wily character, so just when you think he’s got no more he’s always got a bit more.

“I think experience has paid at the end of the day, so there are still a few more lessons to come for Jorge and I think Valentino will win the championship. Having said that Valentino has made a couple of mistakes this year and so you never know but because of consistency and experience my money was always on Valentino.”

The 1987 world 500cc champion though believes Lorenzo will only become an even more formidable opponent as he continues to learn from Rossi inside Yamaha’s factory team.

He added: “At Yamaha right now there is one master there and that is Valentino, but on the other hand Jorge is getting a lot of very valuable lessons in a very short period and he has a great teacher.

“Being able to learn from Rossi is a great opportunity for him, even if he doesn’t win it. It’s a great position for Jorge to be in.”