Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Rossi Confirmed at Petronas Yamaha for 2021 C onfirmation finally came Saturday, September 25 at the Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi has signed for Petronas SRT Yamaha for 2021. After months of negotiating over the finer details of the contract, the 41-year will switch to a satellite squad for the first time since 2001, where he will line up along- side protégé Franco Morbidelli. Rossi acknowledged an agree- ment was in place with Yamaha and Petronas SRT Yamaha for several months. However, a final decision on personnel, bike spec- ification and image rights delayed the deal. "We were not in a rush," said the nine-time champion. The contract is with Yamaha Mo- tor Racing and Rossi will have the same equipment as 2021 factory riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo at the beginning of next season. "Yamaha continue to give me the factory support. So, I think that will not change a lot. Change the color of the bike. I am happy because also the Petronas team is very, very high-level, very profes- sional and they already achieved a lot of important results." Although Rossi lost the fight to bring his team with him to the Petro- nas-backed fold, unlike when he switched from Honda to Yamaha at IN THE WIND P56 the end of 2003, Yamaha to Ducati at the close of 2010 or returned to Yamaha at the end of 2012. He will bring current crew chief David Mu- noz, data engineer Matteo Flamigni and rider coach Idalio Gavira. It means long-time mechanics Brent Stevens and Alex Briggs are out in the cold. "I wanted to see out his career and he tried to make that a reality, it was not what the Petronas team had in mind;" Briggs tweeted on Friday morning. "I am now a free agent and would consider offers but most likely will stay in Australia next year." Rossi's renewal carries him up to 2021. So, does this mean the Italian only intends to race for one more season before hanging up his leathers? Lin Jarvis, Yamaha's Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing explained, "We have a contract with Petronas team until the end of '21. We have a contract with Dorna for our participation in the champi- onship until the end of '21. So we hope that we will renew. Unless you can sign off on that, you can't put that in a contract. "Also, Valentino wants to see if he's competitive every year. It was the same as this year. He wanted to do several races and judge his position. Frankly our agreement has something clear. It says we have intention to discuss with all good intentions for a potential extension in the middle of next sea- son. One year does not mean only one year. One year means 'sure one year, let's see beyond that.'" Neil Morrison In Catalunya, Valentino Rossi confirmed the worst kept secret in MotoGP, that he will race a Petronas Yamaha for 2021.