IN
THE
WIND
P54
CONFIRMED: ROSSI'S NOT
GOING ANYWHERE
I
t's confirmed. Rossi will go on
and on, at least for the next
three seasons. The Qatar Mo-
toGP weekend opened with the
news that Valentino Rossi had
signed another two-year contract
renewal with Yamaha, for 2019
and 2020.
While this means he will be
racing until he is at least 41, well
beyond the usual limit in mod-
ern racing, the decision was no
surprise. He has been dangling
the decision in front of the media
since the first of this year's pre-
season tests.
"Two years ago, when I signed
I thought maybe it would be the
last time," Rossi said. "To stay
competitive and at the top level is
always more difficult every year.
"I'd said to Yamaha, if I can
survive the winter tests, I will
decide," he added. He had prob-
ably done so some weeks before
Thursday's official confirmation.
This will prolong an already
extraordinary career, giving him
more chances to close the gap
on fellow-Italian Giacomo Agos-
tini for the most number of GP
wins, currently standing at 122-
115, but also to extend his lead
in the number of premier-class
wins, standing at 89 to Ago's 68,
and Mick Doohan's 54.
The response of his rivals was
respectful. Current champ Marc
Marquez said, "It's impressive
the way he can find motiva-
tion: It's not two more years—it's
three." Dovizioso said, "If you un-
derstand a little about Rossi, you
are not so surprised. You never
know what he will do." Johann
Zarco, whose hopes of a factory
Yamaha ride are dashed by the
decision, was generous in his
praise. "For newcomers like me,
he makes a dream come true.
We can come to MotoGP, but
without Rossi to follow and race
it would not be the same."
Old rival Max Biaggi was
somewhat more teasing, taking to
social media to point out that it is
perfectly possible to win a world
championship at age 41. "I did,"
he wrote, referring to his second
world superbike title in 2012.
Michael Scott
Valentino Rossi
says he's got
three more years
worth of racing
in him.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
