Following today’s MotoGP race at Phillip Island Valentino Rossi has confirmed that Yamaha’s Masao Furusawa has told him that he’ll released from his contract and will be allowed to test the Ducati in the first post season test at Valencia.
Yamaha’s decision could also explain why Rossi was seen talking almost immediately with Ducati’s team manager Vittoriano Guareschi at the parc ferme.
The decision was probably reached after Jorge Lorenzo’s world title and having cleared the situation with Yamaha’s numerous sponsors and not wanting any backlash from fans, so we expect that Rossi will be testing an all black Ducati and with no logos on his leathers.
Ducati according to the latest news has still to decide if they’ll be running a screamer or big bang engine in 2011 and will bring to Valencia both engine configurations, giving Rossi the opportunity to try out both and then make his choice.
Rossi has also stated that he’ll be undergoing further tests on his shoulder as soon as he returns to Italy, but expects to finish the season and getting the Ducati test under his belt before undergoing surgery, also thanking Yamaha for their gesture on allowing him to test the Ducati and a token of their appreciation for what he’s done for the marque in these years.