Rossi eager for sixth Sepang win

valentinorossi

Just two races remain on this year's schedule, with Malaysia to host the penultimate event of the year on Sunday.

And Rossi, fresh off victory at Melbourne's Phillip Island on Sunday, has fond memories of the circuit, having recorded five premier-class wins at Sepang - most recently in 2010.

With Honda's outstanding Marc Marquez already crowned champion for the second season running, runner-up is the best that is up for grabs, and it is a position the nine-time world champion is eager to claim.

"Apart from the temperature being a bit too high for MotoGP racing, I really like the Malaysian track," Rossi is quoted as saying on the MotoGP website.

"I have always had good races here. We are doing a good job this season and I want to get a good result here. We are working well with the team and I feel very well.

"The last victory in Australia was great - we are very happy but mostly it was another beautiful confirmation of the good work we're doing.

"This weekend we have to work well from Friday and fix every little detail to get to the race with a good set-up.

"The bike has improved a lot and this showed with three Yamaha riders on the Australian podium. 

"I got my second win of the season [at Phillip Island] and now I want to fight for second place in the championship."

Marquez burst out of the blocks this season, winning his first 10 races en route to another world title.

The 21-year-old rider did not finish last weekend in Australia and has now gone four races without success.

Time is running out if Marquez wants to chase down Mick Doohan's record of most premier-class wins in a year - the Australian claimed 12 in 1997.

Marquez, who has won 11 so far, has targeted his team's work with his braking as crucial in his preparation as he aims to level the record.

"It was a shame what happened in Australia, but anyway I was trying a different tactic and I'm lucky to be able to do this with the championship already won," he said.

"Finding the best set-up is very important here, especially in the braking, so we will have to work hard on Friday and Saturday to prepare for the race."

Marquez was second in Sepang last year, behind team-mate Dani Pedrosa - who was also forced to retire in Australia after he was hit by Andrea Iannone.

As a result, Pedrosa (230 points) dropped further behind Yamaha pair Jorge Lorenzo (247) and Rossi (255), in the race for second, meaning he has ground to make up in Malaysia.

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