#sports disk horse just generally a bit more brutal back then idk. cf calling him washed for not winning four races in a row before brno 03

[batsplat]

''Me? Retire? No way. I don't know why people keep asking me,'' the 28-year-old rider told journalists at the official presentation of his Fiat-Yamaha team here. ''I'll carry on racing for as long as I have a chance of winning,'' he continued, adding that he hoped to stay with Yamaha till the end of his career. With new tyres and an improved MI bike, Rossi was convinced he had a good chance of showing Ducati's Australian wonderboy a thing or two. ''It remains to be seen how well Casey holds up under pressure. Our job is to get close to him and threaten him. In many races last year we didn't cause him any trouble at all''. ''2007 was a tough season but this year I want to get the title back,'' he continued, predicting that he, Stoner and Honda's Dani Pedrosa would be the top contenders. Rossi said his Yamaha team-mate, who has just moved up from the 250cc class, could also be a surprise contender. When journalists noted that Casey Stoner had not included Rossi in his list of top contenders for 2008, the Italian veteran appeared not to take offence.

January 2008