Rossi keen to bow out on a high
Valentino Rossi wants to mark his last race for Yamaha with an emotional victory at the final round of the MotoGP championship in Valencia this weekend. The 31-year-old, who has won four World Championships with the Japanese manufacturer, will race for...
Valentino Rossi wants to mark his last race for Yamaha with an emotional victory at the final round of the MotoGP championship in Valencia this weekend.
The 31-year-old, who has won four World Championships with the Japanese manufacturer, will race for Ducati next season after signing a two-year deal with them in August.
The Italian has already lost his title to Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and heads into the weekend third in the standings, 19 points behind Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, but wants to bid farewell to the seven-year partnership in style.
“So here we are, my last race with Yamaha and it will be an emotional weekend for all,” said Rossi on www.motogp.com.
“Of course I would really like to try to win this final race because it would be a great end to this partnership, which has had so many beautiful moments.”
Rossi goes into the race on the back of a second-place finish in Estoril last time out, one of four straight top-three placings.
“We improved the setting of our bike again in Estoril so I hope we will be in good shape in Valencia, although it hasn’t been the best track for me in the last few years,” he added.
“Anyway this is a special weekend so we will do everything that we can. I am third in the championship after Estoril and second is not impossible, although we know Dani is strong in Valencia and he is still 19 points ahead.”
Another former world champion racing for the final time for his current team this weekend is Casey Stoner, whom Rossi is replacing at Ducati.
The Australian, world champion in 2007, is joining Honda after four years with the Italian manufacturer and, like his replacement, is eager to sign off on a high note.
“After the awful weather we had to put up with in Portugal I hope that Valencia is a bit better and we get the chance to work well and get a good set-up for my final race on the Ducati,” said Stoner.
“I have always liked the circuit and I had my first ever win here in 125cc.
“In the past we have always been able to find a good set-up so we are confident. I really want to have a good race this weekend.”