RACING: ‘Doctor’ will continue to deliver
Has signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Yamaha factory squadThe ageless Valentino Rossi has signed a two-year contract extension with Yamaha which will see him remain a MotoGP factory rider until at least the end of 2020.
The contract extension comes just before the 39-year-old will embark on his 13th season with Yamaha, starting at the Grand Prix in Qatar this weekend (March 16-18).
Rossi is Yamaha's most successful GP rider in history, with 56 wins, 43 second places and 35 third places secured in 206 races. He has won four MotoGP titles with Yamaha, following three successes with Honda.
"When I signed my last contract with Yamaha, in March 2016, I wondered if that would have been the last contract as a MotoGP rider,” said Rossi. “At that time, I decided that I'd take that decision during the following two years.
“During the last two years I came to the conclusion that I want to continue because racing, being a MotoGP rider, but especially riding my M1, is the thing that makes me feel good.
“I want to thank Yamaha – Lin Jarvis and Maio Meregalli in particular – for their trust in me, because the challenge is difficult: being competitive until I'm 40 years old! I know it's going to be difficult and it requires a lot of effort from my side and a lot of training but I'm ready, I am not lacking in motivation, that's why I'm signing for two more years."
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