Valentino Rossi cautious about big points lead

MotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi reckons he won’t be taking anything for granted in the 2008 title run-in, despite his sizeable points lead over rival Casey Stoner.

The Italian took a giant leap towards an eighth world title last weekend in Brno when his fifth win of the season opened up a 50-point lead over Ducati’s Stoner, who crashed out of the lead.

With just six races remaining, Rossi is odd-on favourite to claim a sixth premier class world crown and his first since 2005, but the factory Yamaha rider told MCN: “The feeling is good. I am in front and have a good advantage but we saw in the Brno test that Stoner is in good shape.  He pushed a lot and he is very fast. I know it will be a hard battle from now until the end so we try to work as hard as possible to improve the bike. It is an important advantage but we have a great rival and there is a long way to go.”