“It is always more difficult to fight with Jorge,” says Sachsenring racewinner.

Valentino Rossi had to contend with all three of his main rivals for the 2009 world title en route to victory at the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland on Sunday, facing particular resistance from first Casey Stoner and then Jorge Lorenzo in the fight for the win.

It was his duel with the latter that was to prove decisive for the victory, as Rossi once again bested his young Fiat Yamaha teammate on the final laps of the race. Lorenzo had tried to repay the Italian for his last corner move in Barcelona one month previous, but Rossi resisted and took victory number four of the season.

“It was fun, but very tough,” admitted the reigning World Champion after the race. “The top riders made different tyre choices, all the bikes were behaving differently.”

Starting from pole position from the first time at Sachsenring, Rossi was unable to take the holeshot and spent the early stages exchanging blows with Stoner. Passing the gutsy Australian was only the beginning of his problems, however, as he explained.

“Halfway through the race I was able to overtake Casey, but then I saw that Jorge passed him straight away and I thought ‘oh no, another time!’ It’s always more difficult to fight with Jorge. I tried to push a lot, but he was able to overtake. I made my attack and knew that here it is very difficult to overtake, so I tried to stay in front. On the last lap I was fastest in the crucial points.”

Rossi’s victory gives him a fourteen point advantage over Lorenzo in the standings, and also draws him level on career podiums with record holder Giacomo Agostini.