Linky

A meeting with journalists, with the prospect of two further years with Yamaha ahead of him. Valentimo Rossi is happy with his choice, but doesn't hide the fact that other contacts, this time under a veil of silence, did in effect take place.
"Yes, let's say the possibilities to change were there. It could have been Honda but it could even have been Ducati who I've had contact with. The second option could even have been interesting.
It's an Italian brand, fascinating, and I have immense admiration for Filippo Preziosi who I know very well. In the end I chose to stay here, where I have an exceptional team and good relationships. Trying to beat Stoner with his own bike wouldn't have been very original. We need to beat him like this, with the Yamaha"

Negotiations which you carried out on your own?
"Well yes. Now yes. But I didn't miss my manager. I even gave myself a nice percentage as my own manager!" Valentino added jokingly.

Two years are a long time. Don't you think you might find other stimuli elsewhere?
"I had the possibility to choose. I chose serenely for two years because I'm very happy here and I think that I can find other stimuli with Yamaha. I'd like to race for at least two more years. Then maybe, if I'm still having fun, even another two!"

What do you think of Pedrosa's going back home?
"I imagine he did well. Over here if you're not ok it's really tough. I know something about it. The michelins he had I'm told would have made him struggle, so rather than come in twelfth I understand that he might have preferred to give it a miss."

Tomorrow's race on the attack? Or will you be happy with a second place?
"No, I wouldn't sign up for a second place. We're not too badly sorted. No, I still wouldn't settle for a second place. I'd certainly want to do better than that single 3rd I've managed here."

Interesting stuff, thanks for posting. I reckon he made the right decision with the team. It would have been a gamble to change the team and going to Ducati would have been plain crazy imo.

The yamaha has some problems but nothing the doctor cannot overcome

Thanks BIKERGIRL, you always come up with the best info.

I'm wondering whether in fact this revelation might have been the last straw for Casey, maybe fuelling his apres-race outburst.
If all negotiations were really kept under wraps it can't have been nice for Casey to find out that Ducati would have wanted Valentino on their team. Because unlike Marco, Valentino would not be a 'token italian' (as some would say), but a real and proper threat within.
I am a great admirer of Casey (if not his whingeing ways), because whether it's skill or TC, he either has the brains or the guts to make that Duc go...in my book both get a favourable vote. But I think that despite his exterior nonchalance and the confidence he tries to exude, he is not that sure of himself. Case in point being the fuss he kicked up when Rossi moved to Bridgestone. Instead of shutting up or welcoming the challenge he whined about it not being fair. Ouch! That's Australian for "I'm scared that this year was a fluke and if you have my same tyres you're going to beat me".
When Stoner won the championship and included Rossi on his 'heroes' t-shirt, I wondered whether he was catching on to the mindgame playing tactics. Putting Rossi on there with Doohan might have been saying "you're great" but it also might have been saying "You USED TO BE great", in other words you are now past it. But now I think not. I think he was being naively honest. It must be a weird sensation to be the one who finally shakes up someone who is percieved by so many as being one of the greatest of all time, to be the one who really takes the challenge to him, and not somehow be intimidated by it. Casey is Valentino's first proper real elbow to elbow threat in ages, and he should feel good about that.
I for one would have loved to see Rossi on the Duc. And when he says that he'll then race 'maybe another 2 years', somehow I harbour the hope that he will end his career at Ducati.

I feel that way also, i think he lacks a bit of maturity overall.
He also won the title last year easily without alot of battles.



I think he should be grateful for the experience of racing besides Rossi because not alot of riders get the chance.

can you get anymore f**king arrogant ?

Par for the course around here.

Absolutely agree and CS should feel very proud that VR sees him as such a threat (which I feel was evident in the weekend race tactics).






Garry

I don't know if I would use the word proud, but I'm a bit disapointed that he didn't like the elbo to elbo fight. Imagine Capirossi in the same situation? He would have rated this race as another top race against VR, just like VR rated this race the best of the season.

---

One can easily understand why Ducati would have loved to have Rossi - it's not a matter of being more or less satisfied with Stoner (undoubtely they are 120% happy with him) but if you have Vale in your team, then he's not riding against you...!
Manufacturer's logic is different from the riders'

Whats your problem, not alot of riders have the equipment or ability to get anywhere near Rossi... thats just a fact.

Considering hes only gonna be around for a couple more years and hes raced on every kind of bike over the last decade and won seven titles.

Its certainly nothing to cry about if he beats you.

The reason Stacey Moaner was so upset was that Ducati made mr Rossi an offer, not about the passing. Rossi would get $30 million, that wouldn't leave much for Stacey.

I remember Nicky making a comment when yamaha wanted to sign him a few years ago that he felt it was like keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. As far as the manufacture though it would be a win-win situation. They would have two of the three current title contenders under contract, that is assuming they don't kill each other on equal bikes.

Wasn't there talk about Stoner being on a performance contract? Or was that last years contract. I wonder how much coming in second costs him each week?

Maybe Yamaha have given Rossi too an incentive-based contract?
....

...That would explain things

I know Rossi was on a $200,000 win bonus.

my problem is this...^

1. yes, stoner probably does lack maturity, he is only 21/22...

2.he won the title CONVINCINGLY, NOT EASILY.if you think riding that ducati at his pace is "easy", ask loris or marco, they might say different.

3. on his maiden race on a ducati, when he was the least familiar with it, he held off rossi for an entire race without putting a wheel wrong.remember qatar?

4. stoner/ducati has forced rossi/yamaha to up their game drastically and for that, YOU should be grateful..



and this^...

1. more riders than you think CAN get near rossi on ability, not a lot can beat him. as for it being a fact, thats your opinoin, NOT fact.

2.just to save you the trouble of looking at my avatar, i am a suzuki fanboy...
not stoner and not rossi, so your last statement "Its certainly nothing to cry about if he beats you"
just sounds silly...

The equipment certainly, "every kind of bike"? well he's never been on a totally shit one. The hardest ride he's ever had is his current one. He hasn't taken the Ducati because he is not a fucking fool. He clearly wants another World Championship and his best shot is Yamaha, Honda would mean he wasn't the star of the show as honda are the star of the show so he clearly knows which side his bread his buttered

Not that I am saying there is anything wrong in that its not mastermind.

XX Liz

yeah...lol...he needs to pay his fuckin accountant....