Busy week for Rossi ahead of Laguna

World Champion Valentino Rossi this week returns to Laguna Seca, the scene of crucial 2008 victory for the Italian star, with a busy schedule ahead of Friday’s first free practice.

After delighting the 95,000 plus Assen crowd with his 100th Grand Prix win on Saturday the Fiat Yamaha star flies across the Atlantic to the West Coast of the States with a five point championship advantage over his rampant young team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

Rossi arrives in America in great form, with three wins to his name already this season - two of those victories having come in the last two Grands Prix, which have seen The Doctor perform at the top of his game.

Another record under his belt, Rossi wants to quickly increase his win number beyond 100 this weekend at the track where he spectacularly ran through the breathtaking Corkscrew corner last year to ultimately overcome Casey Stoner in an epic battle, though he has some important events in his diary this week before the action commences.

Rossi will call in at Yamaha US HQ on Wednesday with Lorenzo in Los Angeles before heading north to the coastal town of Monterey and the superb Laguna Seca circuit, where on Thursday he is due to take to the Superkart track with Yamaha and MotoGP Legends Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Kenny Roberts Senior.

Previewing the US trip, Rossi commented, “Laguna is a great place to race and an exciting track. I also have a little trip to Los Angeles and Yamaha US first which I am looking forward to. The championship is very open at this point so we need to keep focus, get back to normal after Assen and try to get another good result this weekend.”

He continued, “The wonderful memory of the 100th win is still fresh, but now we have just a few days to recover before the next race, which is hard for everyone. We have to try to relax as much as possible and recharge the batteries a little, because Laguna is always a tough weekend and often very hot. Last year I had a great battle with Stoner and for me it was for sure one of the turning points of the championship and a very important win; I have some good memories. I think this year it will be hard again because Lorenzo is in brilliant form and I am sure Stoner will also be back to his best.”

Rossi is set to match yet another record this weekend, as the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix will see him make his 158th successive GP start in the premier-class without missing a race, which equals the all-time record for most consecutive starts in the class currently held by Alex Barros.