Italian motorcycling ace Valentino Rossi is geared up to start the new MotoGP championship, which will offer him more opportunities to equal or break new records.
Speaking at the first official press conference of the 2007 season on Wednesday, Rossi said "I'm glad to finally get here because it means that the hard work of pre-season is over, even if we never stop working or evolving".
Looking at his new 800cc bike, Rossi admitted that "at first I wasn't happy with it because I liked the power of the old 990cc bike. But now I'm used to it".
The 2007 season opener will be the Qatar Grand Prix here on Saturday and Rossi will be looking to win on the Losail circuit for the third year in a row.
A victory will allow him to tie Eddie Lawson's record of 26 victories on a Yamaha bike.
It will also put Rossi a step closer to equaling Giacomo Agostini's all-time record of victories in motorcycling premier's class, 68.
Rossi needs ten wins this season to match Agostini, a feat he has already achieved in three previous seasons.
Another record within Rossi's reach is podium finishes. He how stands second with 91 to Michael Doohan's 95 in the premier class.
Rossi's Yamaha factory team has a new sponsor this year, Italian automaker Fiat, which has signed on for an initial two-year stretch.
The seven-time world champion has already agreed to stick with the team for the two years, a decision he said he made because "I didn't want any extra pressure on me".
Critics said that Rossi was distracted last year by toying with the idea of moving to Formula 1. He only decided to stick to two wheels half way through the season and despite a magnificent comeback he failed to win the premier title for the first time in six years.
Last year also saw Rossi lose the season opener for the first time in six years, a situation he fully intends to remedy on Saturday.
