Valentino Rossi will stay in the MotoGP world championship until at least the end of 2021, with the satellite Petronas Yamaha team officialy confirming his signing on Saturday ahead of the Catalan Grand Prix.
The news comes as no surprise after reports last weekend that the nine-time world champion had put pen to paper with the Malaysian team, but the confirmation will no doubt come as a relief to the Rossi fandom after months of speculation about the nine-time champion’s future.
He will join the satellite Yamaha team on a one-year deal, aligning himself with them until the end of 2021, when the entire MotoGP grid’s contracts with series organisers Dorna and most satellite teams’ contracts with respective manufacturers come to an end.
His replacement in the works Yamaha team has already been decided, with Rossi and Fabio Quartararo swapping rides in the series.
Rossi is adamant that he’s still got the motivation needed to continue – but that part of the delay has been deciding that.
“I am very happy to continue riding in 2021 and to do it with the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team,” said Rossi.
“I thought a lot before taking this decision, because the challenge is getting hotter and hotter.
“To be at the top in MotoGP you have to work a lot and hard, to train every day and lead an ’athlete’s life‘, but I still like it and I still want to ride.
“In the first half of the year I made my choice and I talked with Yamaha, who agreed with me.
“They told me even if there was no place for me in the factory team, the factory bike and the factory support were guaranteed.
“I am very happy to move to Petronas Yamaha SRT.
“They are young, but they‘ve shown to be a top team.
“They are very serious and very well organised. For this year I also changed my crew chief. I’m very happy with David [Munoz, crew chief], and I think we haven‘t reached our best yet.
“This was one of the reasons why I chose to continue, because the atmosphere in the team is something I like a lot.
“It‘ll be nice to have Franco [Morbidelli] as my team-mate, as he‘s an Academy rider, it‘s going to be cool. I think we can work together to make good things happen.”
And, confirming that Rossi will remain a key part of the factory Yamaha set-up for 2021, the news was first confirmed not by Petronas Yamaha themselves, but by the factory Yamaha team.
And, speaking at the announcement, team boss Lin Jarvis said that Rossi won his argument to retain use of full-factory bikes going forward.
“We are delighted that Valentino will be staying in MotoGP for another year, and we are sure the fans of the sport feel the same way,” he said.
“A substantial part of the MotoGP fanbase will have grown up with Valentino and followed him throughout his career.
“This current and final season with the factory Yamaha team is his 25th in the motorcycle Grand Prix racing World Championship and his 15th year with Yamaha.
“Early on we assured Valentino that, should he stay in MotoGP for 2021, Yamaha would continue to give him full support and a Factory YZR-M1. In the end, this is exactly what he decided to do.
“I previously stated that this COVID-19 influenced MotoGP season would not be the appropriate year for such a legendary rider to close his career.
“Valentino has always been so popular with the fans all around the world, so it‘s great that he has decided to continue for at least another season. Hopefully the fans will be allowed back into the tracks next year to savour watching the GOAT in action again.
“I would like to thank the management of the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team for their enthusiasm and full collaboration to welcome Valentino into their team.
“They are still quite a ’young‘ team, but they are very professional and serious contenders for race wins and feature in the top of the championship standings.
“So we are sure that Valentino will feel comfortable and be able to perform at his best level.”
