Valentino Rossi will stay in MotoGP for two more years or none
Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi says he will continue in MotoGP until the end of 2018 if he elects to race beyond the end of this season
Like the other seven factory Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Suzuki riders, Rossi's current contract expires at the end of 2016.
Rossi's team boss Lin Jarvis is braced for a "very interesting" silly season, and Ducati is reported to have made an approach to Yamaha's world champion Jorge Lorenzo.
Turning 37 next Tuesday, Rossi outlined one of his major considerations, telling Sky Sports Italia that he is not thinking about a single-year contract.
"At the end of 2016 my contract will expire," he said.
"So I will have to decide whether to continue for another two seasons or not.
"If I continue, it will be for two seasons as all the contracts are for two years."
How manufacturers adapt to MotoGP's new control electronics and Michelin tyres is set to play a role in any rider movement, and Rossi expects to make his call on continuing early in the season.
"It will be like 2014 when I said I will look at it after the first few races," he said.
"You have to look at the first five or six races then start thinking."
Share Or Save This Story
Suzuki didn't see its tough start to 2017 MotoGP season coming
Miller sick of Honda MotoGP bike's continued acceleration deficit
The winners and losers of MotoGP's reshuffle
Why Rossi is putting pressure on Ducati over its 2027 MotoGP rider line-up
Rossi signs new BMW contract, returns to GT World Challenge
Why Rossi's serious approach to car racing in 2024 may create a dilemma
Nicky Hayden: Remembering motorsport's much-loved "one-off" five years on
Morbidelli/Rossi relationship won’t change as MotoGP team-mates
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
How Aprilia's Barcelona collapse showed the pressures of leading MotoGP's title race
Title-winning BTCC Peugeot and Harvey in an MG among Touring Car Rewind: North highlights
MotoGP Barcelona test: Acosta fastest as rain curtails running early
Why this year's Indy 500 isn't as straightforward to call as you might expect
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments