Valentino Rossi aiming to continue good form

Valentino Rossi is hoping he can continue his good form in Barcelona this weekend as he goes in search of a ninth win on the Catalunya circuit.

Valentino Rossi leads the series by 12-points over home favourite Dani Pedrosa after winning three successive races for the first time since 2006.

The 29-year-old, who is 28-points clear of Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, said: “I come from a positive period with three victories in a row and this race track for me is always very good and I like it a lot. It is my favourite together wth Mugello.

“I try to make a good weekend like last week in Italy. Last year here it was a great battle, especially with Casey (Stoner) and Dani Pedrosa. We overtake a lot of times in the last laps but at the end I lost.

“This year I will try and make better. We have to adapt the Bridgestone tyres on this track but it is a very fast and technical track with fast corners and the lines are very important. It will be a big battle on the brakes too.”

Rossi’s factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine will run a special painscheme this weekend, with the seven-times world champion sporting an ‘Azzurri” blue to mark the start of Italy’s bid to win the Euro 2008 football championship.

Rossi said: “We have a different bike because Fiat want to make a tribute to the Italian football team with Euro 2008 starting on Saturday. Italy plays on Monday I think against Holland. We are world champions from 2006 and I like the bike. It is blue like the Italian jersey so it is quite good.”