Rossi reckons every point will count

Although he is just 21 points behind Stoner, he thinks his approach is going to have to be more aggressive than it was last year when he nearly overcame a 51 points deficit to eventual champion Nicky Hayden.

"After Laguna (last year) I thought it was finished, but then day by day, I thought it was then possible," said Rossi, speaking ahead of the German Grand Prix.

"This year the story is a little bit different. We have a hard rival (Stoner) with a good package, so I think I will have to be more constant to the end. Now it is important race by race; it's always going to be a fight. One point, every point, is very important.

"Last year during the second half of the year, I think sometimes I didn't risk too much for the victory, because I knew if I made a mistake it was finished. So I arrived many times in second. Maybe this year there is less strategy because there is more fight race by race."

Rossi arrives at the Sachsenring fresh from a crucial victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he just edged out Stoner. The Italian admitted afterwards that his title hopes would have been in tatters if he had lost that race.

"It was very important for us because I was able to go very fast until the end," said Rossi. "I have to thank a lot Michelin for that, because we had some problems in the past.

"We saw our potential in the dry in Donington Park and now I am confident with the tyres and that we can fight with Casey for the win."