Valentino Rossi is fired up for the MotoGP season starting in Qatar on Saturday and confident that American Nicky Hayden's reign as champion will be short-lived.

The charismatic Italian, dethroned by the Honda rider in a thrilling finale last October, is fizzing with optimism after lapping quicker than ever in testing with Yamaha.

"Last year was difficult, very difficult," Rossi said after last month's final test session in Jerez. "But it gives me and the team extra motivation for the 2007 season and we are very concentrated on the job.

"We ended 2006 five points short. Maybe we were a bit unlucky but we made some mistakes. Now I am more concentrated to regain the title," he told reporters.

"For me, the pressures are exactly the same but with more motivation."

All the signs are that the reduction in engine capacity from 990cc to 800 has made the bikes quicker than ever and less of a handful.

Rossi's pace in Jerez was quicker than the 2006 pole time.

"With every qualifying tyre I tried, it felt better and better," said the smiling Italian. "In the end my time was fantastic and my Yamaha really flew.

"It was fun to see just how far I can push this bike and it has answered me brilliantly," added the 28-year-old, the third most successful rider of all time with 84 wins in all categories. "We're definitely in good shape."

Danger man

His optimism comes as a contrast to last year, before the season-opener in Jerez, when Rossi was wrestling with major handling problems and telling everyone that Yamaha were in trouble after a nightmare test at the same circuit.

Rossi, champion in the top class for five seasons in a row before the 'Kentucky Kid' broke his winning streak, has triumphed in Qatar for the last two years and will start as clear favourite.

But he will have his work cut out in what promises to be another close-fought season.

Rossi saw diminutive Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, Hayden's 21-year-old team mate, as the biggest threat to his title aspirations.

Pedrosa has said he feels far more comfortable on the new machines, despite wrestling his way to two race wins in his rookie season, and there is no doubt that the Spaniard will be a serious contender.

"The two of us have been the quickest," Rossi told reporters. "I think it will be a good fight with Pedrosa all season, because he has the talent and a year's more experience. But others are also strong."

Hayden, whose consistency took him to the title despite winning only two races last year, has been recuperating from shoulder surgery and has yet to get back on the pace.

"I would be a fool to say that two race wins will win the title again," the 25-year-old said in Jerez. "There will be a lot of tight races and I have to start winning."

"I'd like to arrive and say 'Hey, I'm great, everything's perfect'. But it's been a very complicated pre-season, first recovering from my shoulder injury and then with the extra aspect of working on a completely new bike."

Rossi's Texan team mate Colin Edwards, the former double world superbike champion, should finally claim that elusive first win in MotoGP.

"Honestly, both Valentino and I are just so happy with everything," he said after the final Jerez test. "It all seems to work and it seems all the effort over the winter has paid off this time."

Ducati's Italian veteran Loris Capirossi, third overall last year, and new Australian Casey Stoner looked quick in early pre-season tests but have tailed off recently.

Both have every chance of winning races, as does Honda's Italian Marco Melandri, fourth overall last year.

Suzuki, with Australian Chris Vermeuelen and American John Hopkins, want to translate their pre-season promise into success, despite Hopkins being sidelined from the final tests by a big crash in Qatar.

Further down the field, newcomers Ilmor - founded by former McLaren Formula One engine designer Mario Illien - will start their first full season with 42-year-old Briton Jeremy McWilliams back in the saddle again but on a machine struggling for pace.

"I'm the oldest rider on the grid and delighted to have a second chance," he said. "We are working to make the bike more consistent and reliable and, on a personal note, my hunger is still there - probably more than it has been for a year."

In the lower categories, Spain's Jorge Lorenzo will be defending his 250cc title with 125cc champion and compatriot Alvaro Bautista, also on an Aprilia, moving up to the same category.

(China Daily via Agencies?March 6, 2007)