Coming into this weekend’s MotoGP event at the Philip Island circuit in Australia (the next to last race of the season), Valentino Rossi is very close to doing what many critics claimed was impossible just 6 months ago – winning the 2004 championship aboard Yamaha’s YZR-M1.
Yamaha’s MotoGP team struggled during the 2003 season, never matching the pace of their Honda rivals. Critics of Rossi’s decision to switch to Yamaha for 2004 said the YZR-M1 was too far behind the curve to be developed into a Honda-beater for 2004. Rossi has proved them wrong with his performance this season, winning seven races and currently holding a 30 point lead over rival Sete Gibernau (Honda) in the championship race.
To clinch the championship in Australia this weekend, Rossi has only to place first or second in the race. As Rossi has long called Philip Island one of his favorite circuits, things are looking rather grim for rivals who hoped to top Rossi in the championship this year.
