Valentino Rossi has labelled his iconic tussle with Casey Stoner 🗹during the 2008 United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca as his 'best battle'.

Considered one of the greatest MotoGP races of all-time, arc🐭✱h rivals Rossi and Stoner went up against one another in a thrilling exchange of overtakes that left little or no margin for error. Eventually decided in Rossi's favour when Stoner fell at the final corner, the win preluded a run of form that would see him clinch the 2008 MotoGP title comfortably.

Indeed, when asked to reflect on his most famous racing battles with rid🀅ers over the years, Rossi acknowledges the challenges he has experienced aga🍬inst the likes of Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, and most recently, Marc Marquez , but it is his head-to-head with Stoner that he regards as his favourite.

"I think the first one was with Pedrosa in Brno in 2006 and I was on⛄ the Camel Yamaha. It was the first time that Pedrosa arrived [at the front] and I said 'f**k, this guy's arrived from 250, now we have two explain what happens in MotoGP!' And boom-boom-boo𓆏m it was like this.

"With Stoner at Laguna Seca, with Jorge in Barcelona, with Marquez sometimes this year - I have a lot [of great battles], but fo✱r me the best one remains with Caseꦉy at Laguna [in 2008]."

Though Rossi has met his match in 2014 against the dominant Marquez, Rossi is certain the young Spaniard has taken time to study his rivals.

"Marc is a clever guy and he has a big passion for the♎ motorcycle, he followed the sport [before he was racing] so he knows all the riders and I think he's studied very much the way to race of his opponents."