All the top riders in MotoGP contracts expire at the end of this season and while Valentino Rossi has said that he’d like to race for another couple of years and maybe negotiate another two year contract with Ducati, if things go better this season, Yamaha’s Lin Jarvis has shut the door on the eventuality of the Italian returning to his old team.
Jarvis has already said that keeping Jorge Lorenzo is a key priority for them, with a nod also towards negotiations with Casey Stoner, but Rossi is “not an option.
”Jarvis commenting on silly season rumors of having Rossi back as a team mate with Lorenzo said, “It’s an interesting question, but right now I have no idea what projects Valentino has for the future, if he’ll continue motorcycle racing or turn to car racing like he talked about when he was with us.
In any case, Valentino and Jorge together again Yamaha is not an option we are considering for the future.
The Yamaha manager was suprised to see the difficulties that Rossi suffered with Ducati in 2011 and hopes to see the Italian’s fortunes turned around this season, “Seeing Valentino Rossi in difficulty is not good for anyone: the ideal situation would be to see three manufacturers and three riders fighting for the victory every weekend.
I was surprised by the problems encountered by Valentino last year, leaving Yamaha to Ducati was a bigger jump than when he switched from Honda to Yamaha.
In 2004, Valentino was 8 years younger and undoubtedly the best rider of the moment.
Now the level is higher, there is much more competition, Honda and Yamaha have taken a big step forward, he’s older and these are the factors that are from my view point, that made the challenge more difficult for Valentino with Ducati than of his 2004 with Yamaha.
“Jarvis also talked about Ben Spies and new Yamaha Tech3 rider Andrea Dovizioso: “Except for his victory at Assen Ben’s results have been disappointing and I’m sure he’s also be disappointed and dissatisfied.
I hope that this year he’ll be able to do better and be more consistent as he clearly has the potential.
Being consistent is everything.
Casey won ten races so he’s consistent, but Jorge was always there.
Apart from a couple of errors he was always ahead and if did not win he was second or third.
That’s what’s you have to do.
You need luck and preparation, not make mistakes and be focused.
Those are the things that Ben clearly has to work on this season.
” “I hope to see Andrea improving constantly and right behind Ben.
I hope to have three of our riders in the top six and that will count for 2013,” said Jarvis.
“I know Andrea’s intentions and it is obvious that the best way to show your potential Yamaha is riding a Yamaha.
We’ve seen what he can do on a Honda but how can you compare the two? I understand his motivation, but I also think this will encourage Ben, who in turn with or without Andrea must show greater potential in order to keep their place in the factory team in 2013.
So I hope that their will be more tha one race win.
This is a competitive world, we are here to win.
”