"Rossi: I’ll do a Gibernau to Lorenzo"

Valentino Rossi has confirmed that if the MotoGP World Championship leader and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo will fight for victory in the final turn heading for Spanish Grand Prix Sunday, the Italian is ready to repeat his controversial 2005 confrontation with Sete Gibernau. 

Four years ago at Jerez, Gibernau and Rossi exchanged the lead several times in a thrilling final lap, Gibernau with the stars get the advantage heading into the final turn. 

However, Rossi, usually refuse to settle for second, launched a do-or-die attack by diving to the inside of the 90 degree left hand. The pair clashed at the apex, sending the Movistar Honda Gibernau spearing off the track, while Rossi rode to victory (see picture sequence below). 

The podium ceremony marked the only time that Rossi has been booed, but the # 46 remained defiant, insisting he had been a hard but fair. 

Rossi, Lorenzo and Gibernau were all present at the press conference Thursday when asked whether Rossi will recur in the transfer of the Fiat Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo, who is currently a point ahead of Italy after the victory of the past Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix. 

"Yes," said Rossi, finally, while stressing that there was no intention of making contact with Gibernau. 

Lorenzo, who beat Rossi and caught on the road to victory at Motegi, joked he was going to defend against such an attack through the activation of M1 in the fight against the car. 

Meanwhile Gibernau, who publicly buried his feud with Rossi as the two shook hands at the press conference Qatar, offered a word of advice to young countryman Lorenzo would have the situation: 

"Pray!" 

Gibernau will be starting his first Grand Prix of Spain since 2006 on Sunday. 

"Since the opportunity to return to MotoGP, this was the place that is actually expected to come," said the winner of Jerez 2004. "It really brings me great memories, is very special and there is another big prize like this. Being back here is really impressive. I felt nervous on my way!" 

Last year the Spanish Grand Prix was won by another Spanish, Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda, ahead of Rossi and Lorenzo, who scored pole.