Rossi ready to relax

Valentino Rossi is ready to enjoy this weekend's season finale at Valencia after sealing his fourth world championship with a race to spare.

The Gauloises Yamaha rider admits he was scared of going into this weekend's race with the championship still up for grabs due to the partisan support title rival Sete Gibernau can expect.

But with yet another title already in the bag, Rossi can now take it easy.

He said: "I wanted to go to Valencia with the championship closed, and that is now possible.

"Before our championship victory in Australia I was feeling a little scared of Valencia because the Spanish riders always go for it so much.

"I know Sete will be going for it there and it would have been a really pressured showdown.

"I am still really looking forward to racing there, it will be a lot less pressure for me now. I still want a great result of course."

Despite the lack of pressure, Rossi is still expecting a battle if he is to crown a remarkable season with a victory.

The Italian was not expected to challenge for the title after switching to Yamaha over the winter, following a dismal 2003 for the Japanese team.