Valentino Rossi could pace himself for the remainder of the MotoGp season after opening up a 50-point lead over reigning champion Casey Stoner in Sunday's Czech GP, Yahama team boss Davide Brivio said Monday.
''If he needs to go easier, he will,'' Brivio said.
''Of course, it's Valentino's mindset to always go for a win. He would never be so calculating as to aim for a sixth or seventh place, but would always try to mark Stoner as he has in the past, settling for second when there's no chance of winning''.
Brivio acknowledged that a 50-point lead with six races to go made Rossi favourite to regain the premier title he held from 2001 to 2005.
But he cautioned that what happened to Stoner at Brno, when the Ducati-riding Australian spun off the track while leading Rossi after six laps, ''could happen to us too''.
''We can try to control things but the unexpected is always lurking. We have to be very careful. Six races are actually quite a lot''.
Asked which tracks would suit the rivals, Brivio replied:
''Let's say that Indianapolis, Motegi (Japan) and Sepang (Malaysia) are those with the longest straights and more favourable conditions for Ducati.
''We should have the edge at Misano (San Marino), Phillip Island (Australia) and perhaps Valencia too''.
The season ends in the Spanish city on October 28.
Asked what the biggest danger to Rossi was, Brivio said:
''Easing off. We have to keep up the pressure, go to Misano and try to win there too. Valentino is psyched, he wants to do well''.
Rossi heads to Misano, just down the road from his home town of Urbino, on August 31.
Indianapolis is on September 14, Motegi September 28, Phillip Island October 5, Sepang October 19 and Valencia October 26.
