Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has admitted to being worried about the late-season pace of Movistar Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo after the Spaniard won his second MotoGP race in a row at Motegi today.

The Doctor had no answer to Lorenzo’s dominance in Japan today as he moved to only 12 points behind Rossi and Pedrosa in the championship points table. The rivals are now tied in second after Rossi’s podium and the Italian said he wanted to try and keep Marquez behind him in order to keep Marquez from winning his second world title for one more week.

“I had a small chance to keep the party going for the championship but the advantage of Marc remain very big. Keep open for another week is better. I try the maximum and had Pedrosa behind at the end who was maybe the faster and I try to come back on Marc at the end, he still have something inside to give but anyway I am satisfied with the work as this is the most high-level race of the season,” said Rossi, speaking at Motegi.

“From the beginning to the end, always on the lap record that was of two years ago, nobody make a mistake and I am proud to arrive close to Jorge and Marc. The battle for second place will be high level because it is between me, Jorge and Dani. All three riders are very fast, the setting of the bikes is at the maximum and we all work at the top.

“I am very worried about Jorge, also Dani as he is fast, but Jorge looks in good shape. The target for me is try to win from here until the end.”

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