Rossi to stick with bikes
Eurosport - Mon, 26 Oct 13:54:00 2009
Valentino Rossi could delay a possible switch to rallying after a ninth motorcycling world title failed to diminish his will to win on two wheels.
The 30-year-old clinched another MotoGP title with third place in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix but had kept his options open about what happens when his Yamaha contract ends in 2010.
A career in rallying has always appealed to the Italian and he recently fuelled rumours he would change sports sooner rather than later after saying his future in 2011 was a mystery.
However, the emotion of a seventh premier class title on Sunday prompted a suggestion he would stick with bikes until the end of 2012.
"If I had to decide today I would sign up straight away for another two seasons," he said.
Having achieved almost everything in MotoGP, the only goal left for Rossi in the sport is compatriot Giacomo Agostini's record of 122 grand prix wins.
Rossi is on 103 and would have to race on for at least two more seasons to break the record, a difficult task given Ducati's Casey Stoner and Yamaha team mate Jorge Lorenzo will continue to learn from the master and race him hard.
"Next year I want to defend the title and have other good battles with Lorenzo and Stoner," he said.
"Maybe I can get close to that record of 122, it depends what I decide in 2011, if I take a one or two-year contract."
Italians would love the former Honda rider to smash the record on a Ducati rather than a Japanese bike but the chances of him moving to the Italian MotoGP team look remote.
He would be under a lot more media pressure racing for Ducati while Australia's 2007 champion Stoner, likely to stay with the Italian team after they stuck by him following a mystery illness this year, would not be the ideal team mate.
Rossi has already said that having a title challenger like Lorenzo as a team mate is not particularly desirable and it would be better for the best riders to be in separate teams.
"The Doctor" racing for Ducati would be a start, but what Italy really craves is a successful Italian driver in a Ferrari.
A move to Formula One was close at the end of 2006 and he had a plan to be a test driver in 2007 before racing in 2008.
Rossi decided to stay in MotoGP and a future switch to Ferrari now looks unlikely, even after the team sounded him out about racing in this year's Italian Grand Prix.
Italy's best paid sportsman turned down the opportunity and the chance might not come again with double world champion Fernando Alonso joining Ferrari next season and Felipe Massa itching to race again after a life-threatening accident.
"The more years that pass, the older he gets for F1. The chances are lessening is my opinion," Yamaha manager Davide Brivio told Italian radio. "We'll do everything to keep him."
Ferrari wanted three cars next year in a bid to make the sport more exciting, and Rossi was linked with a seat, but Formula One officials have largely rejected the proposals.
He has, however, tested for Ferrari in the past and another test as a present for retaining his MotoGP title could follow.
"I have already asked (Ferrari team boss Stefano) Domenicali via text if I can have another test," Rossi said.
A future career in rallying remains a strong possibility for Rossi, who is not as rich as he might have been after having to pay a 35-million euro Italian tax bill in 2007.
He said in April he wanted 10 years in a car after finishing with bikes and he will race a Ford Focus in March's Mexico rally having previously competed in other races.
He was especially keen to manage one race next season before world rally rules change in 2011 when car specifications will be different in a bid to further cut costs.
With so much changing and France's six-times champion Sebastien Loeb still dominating rallying like Rossi has MotoGP, the Italian looks poised to extend his stint on two wheels.
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Comment 9 - 28 of 28
if Rossi was to race at Ducati with stoner he would have to take so many tissues to wipe the wet from behind stoner's ears that it would slow him down......................Stay with Yamaha.......and stick it to Ducati and Honda.
post # 21,
it seems you have a "partner" of your own moron who similarly bangs your ares.
post # 21,
no it is just because your idol is a confirmed g(ay)aot. did you see his "partner" drinking from the same monster drink bottle right after him? an indirect french kiss, the queer couple have no decency.
ducati is also a championship winning bike. but the g(ay)oat doesn't dare try his luck against the stoner. he would simply dump him.
Rossi won't go to Ducati - No chance.
He races with the worlds best rides and beats them regularly, on a championship winning bike which he developed from scratch so why would he want to go to Ducati???
that,s enough on the yamaha now vale, you've made it the best bike out there [said through gritted teeth as i love HONDAS] i want to see you on that ducati going head to head with stoner? you've kicked lorenzo's ar*e now see what you can do against stoner? casey's been awesome in the last three races and i've put a decent amount of cash with mates [rossi arse licking sheep BAA!!!!] that stoner wins in 2010, and one day soon i hope to have the same bet with DANI PEDROSA winning a title, but not yet? -REPSOL ROSS
Casey Stoner shoves beetroot up his bottom
Abdes why are you so fascinated with A rses. Is it that you secretly want a visit round the back?
ROSSI
THE KING
Valentino Rossi is a huge champion. A real one. Clean and aggressive when he need. He beat all his generation and now, beating the "new kids on the block": Stoner, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa and a very great battles. Laguna Seca 2008 was one of the best of the breath. Stoner did every thing: Fast Lap all the week end, but in the race, Valentino prevail. With Lorenzo, this year, was to close too. Same machinery and not instructions shown how great is he. Next thing to him? May beat the monster record of Agostini. Why Agostini - I am trying to figure it out how strong was his rivals- because with his MV August in two championship Agostini wins all the races! A real monster achievement. Why? Moto-Racer combination superiority? I do not know. And, it so difficult to compare this era. But one thing is real: Rossi wins against the next world champions.
Vale has nothing to prove now. He has bounced back from defeat to win back to back titles and has shown he can mix it with the next generation. I do want him to get number 10 next year but after that he should call it a day. None of these riders- Casey or Lorenzo are gonna get anywhere near his title acheivements even though they are brilliant, so there is little point pushing on. I know a lot of other Rossi fans want him to break the 122 victory record but its not needed and does little more to prove that he is the greatest of all time. The record would have been smashed a long time ago if Rossi was able to compete in multi classes at the same time like Ago and the like did in their time, but all the same Motogp will never be the same without him.
Dont stop until Ago. is a memory Rossi!
hows your build up to coming out of the closet going abdes? i bet the math-book you write 'I love Vale' in is pretty full by now.
anyway, any motogp fan wants a laguna seca duel or a catalunya battle EVERY race, and if Rossi isnt triumphant in all of them? its disappointing, but its what motorcycling is all about, brilliant racing
rossi is miles ahead in terms of achievement, in a sport that is measured in millimeters, its tribute to his consistency and talent that he has reached the milestones he has
Comment 14, Very good point, one of the reasons Toseland has struggled is weight and height, not to mention inferior factory supplies. He is built for WSBK not GP and Spies is even taller and heavier than Toseland. One of the reasons Pedrosa is good on the Honda is that he is very light and small but does he really have the strengh and stamina let alone true grit and determination to win over the whole year. Cmments 12 and 13, Are you a child or just a moron. Rossi is scared of no-one, he whooped Lorenzo this year, though he is improving and may in the near future be world champ but I think Stoner is slightly better or at least has a faster bike for now. Next year will be great I think, with improving young riders, Stoner back to his best, Rossi after No 10 and Spies coming into the mix...............role on April 2010 !!!!
kaveiros75 have to agree with you on this one , as a Rossi fan . The top 4 are what makes Moto gp worth watching. how would you feel if Valentino joined Ducati? Don't you think Spies is a little big for GP's the bikes are tiny compared to WSB, he may struggle
ooooh the rossi is thinking about fleeing the danger posed by the stoner and the lorenzo.
please don't go before your already torn ares is beaten by lorenzo or stoner
Vale does what he does well because he loves doing it. And he does have a bit of talent at it.
As long as he loves it, we love watching him. When he decides to move on, so will we.
The fact that he is most likely to be in WRC is just a bonus for me. I watch both anyway. WRC could take a bit of buffoonery. F1 think they can but I doubt it.
Although I am a Stoner and Ducati fan, I am glad that Rossi will stay a few more years in MotoGP, too!
Nomatter how much I want Stoner to be a champion again, I want it to be through fierce battles. I beg the 3 top guys: give us next year all the fighting we COULD HAVE but missed in 2009.
Not another "easy year" for any rider, please!
Looking forward to watching some fierce 3-way battles for the 1st position. Maybe even 4-way in Ben Spies find his way around the bike quickly enough!
I don't put my money on Pedrosa though, since -even when he is in top form- we never saw any real battles or spectacle coming from him!
I have to adhmit that I watched the Malayian GP first on BBC (traitor) with that nightmare in a bubble car austrailian and know it all parish. Then I watched again with Toby & Julian the commentators who know what they are talking about. I found it particularly amusing that parish was completley mystified by the chicken but good old Julian and Toby knew exactley what it was about. I also noted with amusement when Mark Webber got knocked out of an F1 race and was interviewed shortly after on BBC he said he was going to watch MotoGP. on Eurosport and remarked ruefully that Toby and Julian wouldn't be commentating. Will Tobe and Jules be back full time next year and will Randy Momolo be back
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