Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies says nine-times MotoGP world champion Valentno Rossi must find a way to bounce back after his disappointments this year and likened the Italian's extraordinary performances to those of cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Spies, who goes into this weekend's Laguna Seca round on the back of a fifth place in Germany, reckons that Rossi must be in a pretty low place now but he has to stay focused and look to come back stronger in 2012.
"We know how good Valentino is but sometimes it's not always a fairytale. He's going through a little bit of a tough time. The confidence with the bike obviously isn't there right now. He's not in it for the title this year so he has to work on it for next," said the Texan.
"You can't count the guy out and he's having a hard time. Look how may years it was perfect. Look how many years Lance Armstrong was perfect on the Tour (de France). You're not always going to be on top, you just have to find a way to bounce back and right now he is at a low. I'm sure he is doing everything he can, it just isn't clicking right now."
