Rossi: 800cc rules hamper overtaking

The Yamaha rider's speed through the German circuit's fast downhill section played a crucial part in his 2006 victory on the 990cc bike.

He said the extra torque from the larger engines allowed him to get a better slingshot and draw past rivals approaching Turn 12, but this year's 800cc bikes are already on the limit of their power output at this point.

"This track is very difficult for overtaking," Rossi said.

"The fast right down the hill was a better place to overtake past year. Now with the 800 it is harder to make the difference because it is flat.

"And at the end of the downhill there is a big, big bump so you have to keep attention to overtake.

"It's a tough race because four or five riders have the pace for a tough race. This track is much easier for the rider that follows. It's always a group race like last year with the first four in 0.3 seconds at the line. Today four riders have the right pace."

At the last MotoGP in Holland, Rossi came from 11th to win the race, while he took victory from 10th on the grid at the Sachsenring a year ago.

But he thinks it will be tougher to come through the field tomorrow.

"Maybe in Assen it was more easy to make the difference, whereas here it is more a race tenth by tenth so I don't know. Maybe it's more difficult," he said.

Rossi believes that preserving the tyres will be particularly important tomorrow, a factor that may well play into the hands of the 49 kg Dani Pedrosa, who was just pipped to the pole position by Casey Stoner by 0.004 seconds.

"I think that with less weight he has some advantage because less temperature means he has some better grip in the last left handed corners," Rossi suggested.

Pedrosa started from pole here last year and finished fourth, just 0.3 seconds behind the victorious Rossi.