Rossi realistic, but no surrender.
The Fiat Yamaha star's chances of regaining the MotoGP crown were dealt a severe blow last time out at Laguna Seca, when Stoner's sixth victory of the season was combined with a subdued fourth for Rossi, as the Californian circuit brutally exposed the technical weaknesses of the Italian's Michelin shod M1."Laguna made many things quite clear about the situation that we're in this season and I know that many people at Yamaha and Michelin have been working very hard during this break in order to help us to be in better shape at the next race," said Rossi. "Now I'm really looking forward to getting back onto the bike and doing the best we can to get back into the fight.
"Of course we know that the championship is going to be difficult, but we were in a worse situation at this time last year, with less races remaining, and we still managed to come back to lead the fight."
Last year, Rossi left Laguna Seca 51 points behind Nicky Hayden - whom The Doctor went on to catch and pass heading into the Valencian season finale - but Rossi admits a repeat against Stoner is a much tougher prospect.
"This time it will be very, very hard because Stoner is very strong and is not making mistakes, but we won't give up," he declared. "I know my team, Yamaha and Michelin will continue to give 100% and we will fight at every one of the final seven races. Brno last year was the start of a turnaround in our fortunes so let's hope this is the case again this year!"
Unlike at Laguna, Rossi has a promising record at Brno - venue for this weekend's Czech Republic
Grand Prix - having taken his first ever grand prix victory at the venue as a 125cc rider. Rossi has also scored three wins and three second places in the premier class and only once finished outside the top two... but the bad news is that Ducati and Bridgestone won last year's event, with Loris Capirossi.
