Valentino Rossi is riding high after claiming one of his "best wins ever" and has his sights set on a century of race victories.

Reigning champion Rossi is locked in a three-way tie at the head of the FIM MotoGP World Championship after his breathtaking victory over Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo at the Catalunya Grand Prix, the Italian's last-corner pass settling an intense and entertaining duel.

Rising Spanish star Lorenzo and 2007 world champion Casey Stoner (Marlboro Ducati) are tied with Rossi on 106 points apiece heading into this weekend's race, the seventh of what has been a hotly disputed campaign.

"Assen is a very special track for all riders and it is a wonderful place to ride a MotoGP bike, even if it was better before they changed the layout," said Rossi, who stands on 99 wins in all categories of grand prix motorcycle racing heading into Saturday's race at the 2.830-mile Dutch circuit.

"After Barcelona we know how strong we are but also our rivals are strong too so we can't afford to relax, we have to keep pushing.

"Montmelo was fantastic, one of my best wins ever, but the championship is very close between the three of us and so we have to try to win again to take the lead.

"There is still a long way to go but we have to remain consistent."

The battle lines are drawn between the leading trio who have each claimed two wins in the six races to date, and Lorenzo in particular has reason to be confident after posting two second places and a victory at the last three rounds.

"The last three races have been fantastic and almost unbelievable, and now for the three of us it's almost like we're starting the championship all over again," said the Spaniard, who in only his second season of MotoGP is proving more than a match for the more experienced pairing of Rossi and Stoner.

"Assen is my favourite track and I am going there feeling very confident in my bike and my Bridgestone tyres and with all the team feeling very motivated.

"Last year I was sixth so the most important thing is to improve on that, but of course I am aiming for another podium, because consistency is the way to remain close to the top of the standings."