Rossi vs. Lorezno

All is not harmonious in the Yamaha camp:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...es/8349264.stm

World champion Valentino Rossi has hinted he will leave Yamaha if they do not drop Jorge Lorenzo in 2011.

Italian Rossi, who won his ninth world crown this year, has also revealed he could switch allegiance to Ducati.

Lorenzo recently signed a new one-year deal with the Japanese firm but Rossi does not think there is room for the two riders in the same team.

"Yamaha have to decide between me and Jorge for 2011," Rossi told BBC Two. "I have a great option to join Ducati."

The pair have fought some incredible battles on the track this season, with the 30-year-old Rossi coming out on top and clinching the title with one race of the season to spare, while Lorenzo, 22, as runner-up.

Having watched the interview with Rossi on the BBC Valentino left little doubt that if Lorenzo was still at Yamaha for 2011 that he wouldn't be.

But Lorenzo has said that he has not always felt appreciated at Yamaha and revealed he had received offers from other manufacturers before signing his new deal.

Now Rossi, who signed a two-year deal with Yamaha in August 2008, has made it clear he could make a switch.

"I am not sure 100% if I will stay with Yamaha," said Rossi. "It depends on what happens next year. It depends on my performance and the fight with Jorge Lorenzo and the decision of Yamaha for 2011.

"I could change bike, ride for Ducati and try to win the world championship with an Italian bike. That would be a great motivation.

"But I prefer at this moment to stay with Yamaha because the love between me and Yamaha, our relationship, is something special.

"To change bike would feel unfaithful. So for Yamaha it is important that I finish my career with them and for me it is also important. "

The Yamaha bosses must be feeling completely shafted by this - they've got to choose between the man who's arguably the most successful MotoGP rider of all time and the kid who's probably going to supersede him in the future. I wonder if they'll do what Honda did and stiff Rossi with an eye to the future (cf. Honda and Hayden/Pedrosa).

[G]

That interview was amusing and interesting. Would love to see him on a home grow ducati to finish his career.

Originally Posted by ranathari

The Yamaha bosses must be feeling completely shafted by this - they've got to choose between the man who's arguably the most successful MotoGP rider of all time and the kid who's probably going to supersede him in the future. I wonder if they'll do what Honda did and stiff Rossi with an eye to the future (cf. Honda and Hayden/Pedrosa).

Must be tough at the top, seems Yamaha are a victim of their own success, but they've got 2 teams so they could move Loranzo there I suppose. I thing he needs his own team anyway, if he's anything like as good as he thinks he should do what Vale did when he went to Yamaha.

I dont think he would go to ducati. One reason why he left honda was because of their intensive working ethic; long debreifs etc and an environment of "we built the bike this way because this is what we believe is best, do not question, go and ride it". Ducati also have a similar working ethic.

Rossi has vowed to stay with yamaha until the end of his career...although, wouldnt it just be great to see him on a suzuki for a season, see if he can turn the GSV-R around in the same way as he did with the M1!

Don't see why Yamaha should be upset - their Bike was nowhere when Rossi Joined them.

Suzuki would be cool but recon it'd need more than a once season commitment - not sure Rossi'd want to hang around that long - motivation can't be what it used to be.

[fizzwheel]

Rossi playing mind games already ?

He knows Lorenzo is a big threat, if Lorenzo can add consistency to his speed ( i.e. stop falling off ) he's got a battle on his hands.

We've seen Valentino do this before, he gets under their skin / into their heads by saying stuff like this and then it completely messes them up.

By starting this with Lorenzo already it shows you what a bg thread he thinks he is IMHO.

I could see him go to Ducati, especially if he gets bored at Yamaha, but then he'll be up against Casey who is just if not stronger than Lorenzo. I guess it depends what Ducati do with Casey, but I cant see them dropping then only guy who can seem to ride their bike...

Interesting times...

Originally Posted by Sosha

Don't see why Yamaha should be upset - their Bike was nowhere when Rossi Joined them.

Suzuki would be cool but recon it'd need more than a once season commitment - not sure Rossi'd want to hang around that long - motivation can't be what it used to be.

I get what you mean, he's been there, done that. We all know he has interests in rallying and also has dabbled in F1 (testing for ferrari), so perhaps he'll move into 4 wheels.

I think though, he would like to spend a little longer crushing lorenzo. No-one has ever brought such a feirce challenge to Rossi, not even Casey has thrown moves at Rossi like Lorenzo has. Rossi likes this; it gives him the chance to really work for his win.

Lets none of us forget Round 6 - Catalunya this past season. THAT fabulous final turn lunge by Rossi, sticking it underneath Lorenzo and effectivly block-passing him and securing a fantastic win is why Rossi will stick around.

Roll on 2010!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by G

That interview was amusing and interesting. Would love to see him on a home grow ducati to finish his career.

Indeed. Its like others have said though, Ducati seem to be like Honda were/are int hat they do what they want and make the rider get on with it. Though I will say that I think they might be changing that a little at the moment.

What they did to Marko really didn't work and they seem to have changed their ways (they said he was a crap rider, see what he has done on a bike which is one of the worst on the grid) which is why Hayden is getting there now, because they consider his input more.

Either way its goin to be interesting!

[Lissa]

I could easily see Rossi moving to Ducati now Livio Suppo has left the team!

Originally Posted by Sosha

Don't see why Yamaha should be upset - their Bike was nowhere when Rossi Joined them.

Suzuki would be cool but recon it'd need more than a once season commitment - not sure Rossi'd want to hang around that long - motivation can't be what it used to be.

Perhaps it is Lorenzo who should move to Suzuki and take the opportunity to prove he has the ability to take a team from losing to winning as Rossi did moving to Yamaha. At least then he'd either prove himself (to himself and us) or at least realise why he doesn't get the GOATs wages.