Yamaha Expects Valentino Rossi to Stay in 2019
Rennie Scaysbrook | February 15, 2018
Yamaha Expects Valentino Rossi to Stay in 2019–Yamaha’s MotoGP Director Lin Jarvis “fully expects” nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi to extend his racing career with the Yamaha factory into at least the 2019 season.
Jarvis made the comment when speaking to MotoGP lead commentator Matthew Birt during press day at the Thailand MotoGP test, saying that while the team would like to see Rossi complete a few races early in the year to gauge his competitiveness, he believes Rossi will be a part of the factory team once again for 2019 alongside Maverick Vinales, who recently signed a two year extension for his seat at Movistar Yamaha.
“Yesterday we were actually in Manila in the Philippines for a promotional event and Valentino explained to the media there that right now he definitely has the intention and desire to continue,” Jarvis said. “I can assure you that nothing is done at the moment but I imagine it won’t be too long until Valentino’s situation is clarified and I fully expect him to be with us again on the grid next year. It is not yet clear whether he may decide to do a one-year contract or perhaps a two-year contract.”
“We’re in close contact, we talked to each other already and we decided that anyway, we’d like to see a few tests at least under the belt before making a decision maybe a few races.”
Should Rossi continue racing in 2019, it will be his 20th straight year in MotoGP in a career that started in the 125cc category in 1996.