Rossi hopes to delay Stoner's title

The Marlboro Ducati rider will have to wait at least until next week's Japanese Grand Prix if he doesn't score at least 15 points more than his Fiat Yamaha rival.

The Italian, who qualified third in Portugal, reckons his package will allow him to fight with the Australian who will start the race from the second spot.

"Stoner needs to gain 15 points over me, but we are quick here this time around so we can play for it and enjoy ourselves," Rossi told Italia1 television.

"(Repsol Honda's Dani) Pedrosa has a very good pace too, while with Stoner you can't see it because he never pushes hard on Saturday afternoon, but it's a sign that the Michelins aren't doing badly.

"I have found two different (tyre) solutions, so which one to use will depend on the temperature tomorrow."

Rossi also explained that he could have attempted to improve on his best time if he didn't gamble on Michelin's two-lap qualifying tyre.

"Unfortunately I lost a gamble," explained Rossi.

"With Michelin we tried to have a slightly different qualifying tyre, able to do two laps like the Bridgestones, but it lacked grip in the first lap and it was worn out in the second lap.

"I only had one attempt with the right tyre, so if I had another I could have done better."

Rossi also revealed about the physical problems he has while running through the fourth sector of the track.

"I really struggled because in the tight S-curve, with my long legs, I need to make the bike turn with my knees, so my knees hurt a bit now," said Rossi.

"We'll have to do something about it tomorrow. I've always suffered from this problem on this track, because in T4 there's that sort of corkscrew with a right-left-right."