Rossi: 'No wall and Lorenzo is No.1'

VALENTINO Rossi has said that there will be no wall dividing him and his team mate Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha in 2013 and that Lorenzo is the number-one rider.

Speaking at Indianapolis, Rossi said: "Now the situation change a lot compared to the past, compared to 2008 when Jorge arrive to Yamaha. Now he's the No. 1 in the team, and our relationship are good. I have respect for him, and he have respect for me. So I think we can stay together. I am sure that together we can form a great team for Yamaha, for try to achieve good result in the next seasons.

Rossi then added, with a wry smile:"We will be very close with Jorge if he agrees."

Both Lorenzo and Rossi were full of praise and admiration for each other and it looked like it was more than just a well-rehearsed PR script.

Talking about being back in a team with Rossi, Lorenzo said: "For me it is a pleasure to be again with Valentino, two more years with the same bike. So for me, everything is positive. I always say the wall is a stupid thing. It doesn't make sense for anything. No wall is OK for me and I think for Vale this time."

When Rossi was asked whether he could win the championship on the Yamaha in 2013, he said: "In my condition now, especially you have to understand if I'm still a top rider, if I'm still fast, and if I can fight for the front row, if I can still fight for the podium. I don't know, because after two seasons like this, nobody knows. So before I speak about the championship, I have to understand if I can fight from the front row, I can fight for the podium. And after, we will see.”