Rossi: It's me or Lorenzo at Yamaha in 2011!

[Adam]

During an interview with the BBC, Valentino Rossi warned that Yamaha must decide between re-signing him or team-mate Jorge Lorenzo for the 2011 MotoGP season.

Lorenzo has been Rossi's closest rival this year, only losing the title to nine time world champion Rossi at the penultimate round of the season.

Rossi has repeatedly stated his displeasure at developing a bike that will also benefit his closest championship rival.

Both Rossi and Lorenzo will remain at Fiat Yamaha next season.

[Adam]

MotoGP becomes more like F1, where rider's power is so prevalent he can decide who will become his team mate?
Ah... Rossi shows once again he's a bit scared to take on other talented riders on the same bike. :crazy:

[JimR]

Originally Posted by Adam

MotoGP becomes more like F1, where rider's power is so prevalent he can decide who will become his team mate?
Ah... Rossi shows once again he's a bit scared to take on other talented riders on the same bike. :crazy:

Hi Adam,
surely Rossi is up to retire and he should perhaps while he's still just ahead of the younger Lorenzo the same was true with the Giacomo Agostini/ Johnny Cecotto / Kenny Roberts battle to be Yamaha's number one in that case the old boy did retire
Regards Jim

[Techguy]

A wonderfully frank interview from Rossi. But this could be a tough one for Ducati, unless they are planning to run a single-rider team separately for Rossi. Stoner has every chance of winning the WC next year and beyond. If Ducati hire Rossi they will be aware he probably just wants a 'swansong' victory on an Italian bike. I'm not sure Ducati will be interested in hiring him just to give him a fairytale exit from the sport.

Rossi said the same sorts of things before leaving Honda for Yamaha, albeit in a less amicable way. I'd say he is leaning towards Ducati in 2011. Next year he will use Lorenzo getting 'the benefit of my work on the bike' as his justification for quitting Yamaha.

[QuickMick]

Ha, thats how you eliminate the compitition right? Im not sure why he wants to get rid of his own teammate, other than losing to him.

[xzpolskix]

Maybe he should join up with Spies and have Spies be the new "apprentice" like Jorgay is/was.
Definitely would like to see him on a Yami instead of a Duc

[JimR]

He should just draw the pension everyone is despensable
Regards Jim

[xzpolskix]

Lorenzo's answer (sorta) to Rossi's comments/statements:

[Only registered can see links. ]

Another blow has been struck in the ongoing battle for supremacy inside the Fiat Yamaha garage. After Valentino Rossi announced that Yamaha would have to choose between himself and team mate Jorge Lorenzo - before backpedalling to the Italian press - this time, it is the turn of Jorge Lorenzo's side of the garage to get in a blow. That comes in an interview with the Spanish broadcaster Cadena SER, in which Marcos Hirsch, Lorenzo's manager and confidant, launched a blistering attack on the 9-time World Champion.

"It's sad that a champion of the stature of Valentino Rossi is so preoccupied by Jorge," Hirsch told Cadena SER. "What he should be doing is being happy, fighting on track and beating him man-to-man, and not using strategies like saying 'get out of here' and 'I don't want you here'." Hirsch was most critical of Rossi's mind games: "His psychological strategy of sending messages using friendly journalists surprises me a little."

Hirsch repeated that Lorenzo was untroubled by the situation, and that he did not view the rivalry with Rossi as something special. "He is one more rival to beat," Hirsch said. "A rival at an incredibly high level, but that's all. There are other riders on the track who are talented and fast, and you never know what is going to happen."

Hirsch was particularly critical of the way Rossi was putting pressure on Yamaha. "They are both employees of Yamaha," Hirsch said of Rossi and Lorenzo, but he could not understand how Rossi could be allowed to put Yamaha's bosses "up against the wall." Hirsch emphasized that he thought it was very sad that a champion of Rossi's stature should stoop to the level of mind games and political pressure. "It is sad that Rossi ... feels the need to fight his battles in backrooms and corridors to try and gain some kind of advantage."

Hirsch's criticism did not prevent the giant Brazilian from applying a little pressure of his own. Lorenzo, Hirsch said, would not discount leaving Yamaha. "We will listen to the people who come and talk to us, and together with Jorge, we will weigh up what we believe is the best for Jorge's career in motorcycle racing." Lorenzo's decision would not be affected by political infighting, nor would he be forced to take a decision before he was ready, Hirsch told Cadena SER. "If we have to weigh up options with Suzuki, Honda, Ducati, we will not take any account of whether Mr Rossi says he wants us to leave or not," Hirsch said.

Lorenzo's manager could not resist a final dig at his charge's team mate. "[Rossi] will never be able to put Jorge off balance. He tried hard this year, trying to push him to the limit, but I think that he won because we lost."


Personally, I can't wait to see what happens next year in the races between Rossi and Lorenzo. Hopefully Spies can split the two of them up (1st place Rossi, 2nd place Spies, 3rd place Lorenzo)

[ecstar858]

[timmay]

wow wtf...i would LOVE to have a fierce rider that was my team mate!!