MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi reckons that the 2009 season could be his hardest year in racing to date because all of his rivals will be hungrier than ever.
Speaking at the launch of his 2009 YZR-M1, Rossi expects Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and his own team-mate Jorge Lorenzo to be the main title challengers.
"I think that the number one rival will be Stoner. Then also Pedrosa will be very fast and I do think that Lorenzo will be one of my strongest rivals, because he has a year’s more experience and this year there is also the monotyre, so we will start equal. He will be a very hard rival to fight," said The Doctor.
"2008 was difficult because it was the year in which I had to give the most of myself in order to win. In 2009 it will be even more difficult because my adversaries, who suffered in 2008, are now out for payback and will be looking to beat me. I think it’s going to be even harder than 2008."
