Rossi: Lorenzo must find new motivation

Valentino Rossi believes that Jorge Lorenzo will need to find new motivation now that he has become a MotoGP world champion.

"After getting the first title, something changes in your head because your dream comes true. So, you just try to motivate your mind into some other way," explained Rossi, the outgoing seven time MotoGP champion.

Lorenzo won the 2010 title last weekend at Sepang, after a season in which both his nearest title rivals - Rossi and then Dani Pedrosa - were sidelined by injury.

But Lorenzo was also injured, before the start of the season, and - despite the frosty atmosphere between the two Fiat Yamaha riders - Rossi considers Lorenzo a deserving champion.

"My injury and Dani's made things easier for him, but he deserves to win," said Rossi. "He won many races and didn't do any mistakes. He uses the bike in the best way so he deserves the championship for sure."

After 15 rounds of the 2010 season, Lorenzo has won seven races, never finished lower than fourth and scored 313 points.

That is more wins and points than Rossi claimed during the full (17-round) 2009 season, when the Italian won his ninth world title.

31-year-old Rossi is moving to Ducati next season, while 23-year-old Lorenzo has signed to stay at Yamaha for at least the next two years.