Following his win at Assen, Valentino Rossi jokingly said he would like to become the oldest rider to win a MotoGP race, targeting Troy Bayliss who won the 2006 Valencia round at the age of 37, saying that he would have to stay in the championship for another three years in order for it to happen.
One of the reasons that Cal Crutchlow left Yamaha Tech3 for Ducati (besides the factory ride and more money) was because Lin Jarvis couldn’t promise him a factory ride in 2015, because he said that the Yamaha boss was keen to keep both Lorenzo and Rossi beyond their 2014 contracts.
In an interview with Speedweek.
de, Rossi ruled the rumors (since Davide Brivio is running the team) that he could be riding for Suzuki, when the team returns to MotoGP in 2015, but he also said that after 2014 he won’t be retiring as many have speculated, but wants to continue for another two years and stay with Yamaha.
Rossi said: “After 2014 I want another contract with Yamaha for two more years, until the end of 2016 in the factory team, if Yamaha agrees.
After which I think it will be enough.
”Asked what he would do after his retirement, the Italian said he’d like to turn to car racing – GT, DTM, 24 Hours of Le Mans, with no expectations, but just for fun.
Rossi is already giving pointers to younger CIV and Moto3 riders who visit his Motoranch and he plans on coaching upcoming talents when he does finally to hang up his lid.
Playing the fantasy team owner/manager game, the Italian was asked who would he choose to ride for his team, his answer: Marc Marquez and Scott Redding
