German MotoGP: Rossi expecting another final round shootout for MotoGP world title

Valentino Rossi expects his quest to reclaim the MotoGP world championship crown to be decided in a nail-biting final round showdown for the second season in succession.

The Fiat Yamaha rider is 21-points adrift of Ducati rival Casey Stoner going into this weekend’s German MotoGP clash at the Sachsenring. The 28-year-old arrives for round 10 of the MotoGP series on the back of a brilliant victory in Assen last month.

Rossi and Stoner have scored the same amount of points in the last four races and Rossi is anticipating the title fight to be decided in a winner takes all showdown in Valencia.

Rossi, who lost a last round decider with American Nicky Hayden in Valencia last year, said: “We are only at the middle of the season this year but it’s very competitive and the fight will arrive to the end. This year we have a lot of points more than last year so it’s a more normal world championship. We have a good strong rival in Casey Stoner and also Dani [Pedrosa] is not very far away, I think the battle will be go to the end.”

Rossi lost a MotoGP championship in 2006 for the first time since his rookie year in 2000, even though he led Hayden by eight-points going into the final round.