Valentino Rossi predicts intriguing title fight

Valentino Rossi might not be competing for the 2011 MotoGP world championship crown, but the Italian says he’s still intrigued and excited to watch the scrap between Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo unfold.

Stoner’s fifth win in 10 races last weekend in Laguna Seca extended the Australian’s points lead over reigning world champion Lorenzo to a healthy 20 heading into the two-week summer break.

And Italian Rossi, who is struggling to even compete for the podium on Ducati’s factory GP11.1, said: “For me the championship is still open and I think Stoner is a bit faster but also Jorge is very fast and very strong mentally.

“I think that in a track like Laguna Seca, like a stop and go track, Honda has an advantage compared to Yamaha and at the same time the Yamaha can fight with the Honda on more fast and smooth tracks.

“Twenty-points is nothing and I think it will be a great fight for the second half of the season. For me maybe Stoner is faster and Lorenzo is stronger, so it depends which is more important.”