Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has said this year's MotoGP World Championship will be very interesting as there are four riders capaable of fighting for wins in 2009 - not just two as in 2008.

The Doctor, who had to give best to team-mate Jorge Lorenzo at Motegi this morning in a Yamaha one-two, said he had a small problem in the race and couldn't make a break away from Lorenzo - but is happy with 20 points for second.

"It was a great race, long, very difficult and also physical. I got a really good start from the front row, but there was a part of the race that I wasn't quite able to ride like I wanted, there was some kind of problem and I wasn't fast enough to pull away," sai The Doctor.

"I lost time from Jorge and then was involved in a battle with Dani and then in the last part of the race I was able to step up my pace and pick my lines, setting some good lap times. I tried to come back but unfortunately Lorenzo was too far away.

It's a good race, second place is not a victory but it's still twenty points for the championship. I think the championship will become very interesting now because we have four riders ready to battle for wins at the end."