Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi says he is planning to stay in MotoGP for at least five more years, rubbishing suggestions that he plans to retire soon.
"It's 100 percent certain I will race in 2009, unless I win every race next year," the Italian told Motosprint magazine.
"I've never considered quitting, otherwise I would have done that in 2006 and maybe I would have gone to Formula One. But I didn't, and it's not just for one or two years.
"I'm staying, I hope, for at least five years."
The 28-year-old Italian has a year of his Yamaha contract left to run and will be hoping to bounce back in 2008 following a disappointing 2007 season.
Rossi won just four races to champion Casey Stoner's 10, and the Yamaha rider went on to finish in third place in the standings behind the Australian and Honda's Dani Pedrosa.
The five-time MotoGP champion admits it has been tough watching Stoner being the fastest rider on track.
"For sure this hasn't been one of my best seasons," he added. "It's been a tough year, different from the previous one when I was often the fastest but I lost through mistakes and bad luck. This year Stoner has always been quicker than us, bar a few exceptions.
"It's been tough. Casey has gone quick and hasn't made mistakes, and that's been a surprise, because we knew already he was quick. He fully deserves the title. We will try to challenge him in 2008."
yep yamaha really need to pull out all the stops, instead of refining what theyve got they need to start from scratch, the 06 bike was crap so the 07 with a smaller engine was never going to be great.
Little Loris wrote:Right, reply what you want regarding this because I don't care what anyone else thinks, but I'm sick and feckin' tired of Rossi's whinging and whining (see MCN 12/12/07) about how electronics take away the riders ability to ride a bike and how Michelins suck and how Yamaha's aren't fast down straights and how good the Ducati is because they have more money and Desmodromic valves are sex and that 250 riders are having it too easy in Moto GP and that Jorge Lorenzo should keep his nose out of his pit garage in case he picks up Rossi's losing streak and bad habits of whinging and whining.
Does Michael Owen complain that goalkeepers are too good and his boots are too tight when he has a goal-drought? Did Mr Kneivel swear blind that he was too good to do another jump before he died? You don't hear Stephen Hawkins boast he could've taken free-kicks better than David Beckham if he could've walked.
He's already got Bridgestones because he threw his toys out the pram "I want what Casey's got, I want, I want! WAAAA". If he had the best electronics, the best tyres, the fastest bike in a straight line, what would be the point in racing at all? I thought he wanted to be the best rider, not have the best bike with all the bells and whistles so that he could do the lap record round Mugello with his hands round his knob.
As for riders aids helping 250 riders? Maybe Rossi should go have a word with Wayne Rainey about how rider aids help safety. Maybe he should chat to Franco Uncini and Giancarlo Falappa about how riders aids could've helped them (saw Falappa at Brands last year with a steel back brace on walking around the paddock - legend).
All Rossi fans know that if he won every race, every year, like he would've done if he'd stayed with Honda, Moto GP would've been dead and buried. Thank God and all that is holy, that Hayden and Stoner beat him to the title two years in a row fair and square. Sh!t bike? Tough luck. Should've gone to Ducati when you had the chance, mate.
Now stop moaning and get on with it. Have some balls about you.
Thanks for reading.
Well dont hold back there mate , lol . The genius of Rossi , does leave you wandering at times .
Well dont hold back there mate , lol . The genius of Rossi , does leave you wandering at times .