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What factory Yamaha exit means for Rossi

Valentino Rossi's desire to bide his time over his MotoGP future means he won't be on a factory Yamaha in 2021. Guarantees are in place to ensure he remains competitive should he decide to race a satellite bike, but has the time come for him to retire?

"He knows changes aren't permanent, but change is". So wrote late, great Rush drummer Neil Peart in the band's iconic 1981 song 'Tom Sawyer'. It's a line that also sums up Valentino Rossi's MotoGP career.

Like most, he has gone through soaring career highs, and crushing lows, during his time in grand prix racing. But unlike most, it was always a guarantee that Rossi would be back - at the sharp end and on the grid, no matter what happened.

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.