Valentino Rossi hasn't won the world title for the past two years and has been making noises about changing teams or packing up if he doesn't win in 2008. Is Rossi at the mind games or is he serious?

Casey Stoner was asked who he thought his rivals would be in 2008 and he never mentioned you. Was he trying to wind you up?
Rossi:Well, whichever way you look at it, that was a mistake.*

So why has Stoner got it for you? Did something happen between the pair of you?
RossiAfter he won the world title he said some stuff about me that was out of order and I don't understand why.

So who are your favourites for the title?
Rossi: Me, Stoner and Pedrosa. I know that Honda will be working like crazy to get the title back and get back to the front. I'd say that Lorenzo and Dovizioso were outsiders. It seems to me that Casey won the title last year without much effort and nobody really asked any questions of him. We don't know yet how Casey will cope when there's more pressure on him. The objective for us in 2008 is to really make him work hard.

So, if you don't win the title this year, would you seriously consider retiring?
Rossi: I'm not seriously thinking about it, we've got another season ahead of us and then we'll see.

What do you reckon about Lorenzo, your new team mate?
He's a massive young talent and I want to help him and the team grow.

What do you think about the development of electronic aids in MotoGP?
Rossi: I think the best thing would be to limit their development and use and I'd say that the Formula One guys are on the right track in that regard.

Do you think that the security and safety of riders on track is still something that needs to be worked on?
Yes, for sure things have improved in recent years, but there are still one or two tracks that need to be improved. It seems that only me and Capirossi are bothered about this sort of thing. I'm waiting on Stoner with open arms on this one...

• Stoner went on the record saying:My rivals for 2008? I think Pedrosa will be dangerous on the Michelins. As far as Rossi goes, he'll be there or thereabouts but I don't think that now that he's on Bridgestone tyres things will change that much from last year. I have a lot of respect for him for his seven titles but when a new season starts, the past doesn't count.