Rossi hands ultimatum to Yamaha

[johnc]

from bbc news website:

World champion Valentino Rossi has hinted he will leave Yamaha if they do not drop Jorge Lorenzo in 2011.

Italian Rossi, who won his ninth world crown this year, has also revealed he could switch allegiance to Ducati.

Lorenzo recently signed a new one-year deal with the Japanese firm but Rossi does not think there is room for the two riders in the same team.

"Yamaha have to decide between me and Jorge for 2011," Rossi told BBC Two. "I have a great option to join Ducati."

The pair have fought some incredible battles on the track this season, with the 30-year-old Rossi coming out on top and clinching the title with one race of the season to spare, while Lorenzo, 22, as runner-up.

But Lorenzo has said that he has not always felt appreciated at Yamaha and revealed he had received offers from other manufacturers before signing his new deal.

Now Rossi, who signed a two-year deal with Yamaha in August 2008, has made it clear he could make a switch.

"I am not sure 100% if I will stay with Yamaha," said Rossi. "It depends on what happens next year. It depends on my performance and the fight with Jorge Lorenzo and the decision of Yamaha for 2011.

"I could change bike, ride for Ducati and try to win the world championship with an Italian bike. That would be a great motivation.

"But I prefer at this moment to stay with Yamaha because the love between me and Yamaha, our relationship, is something special.

"To change bike would feel unfaithful. So for Yamaha it is important that I finish my career with them and for me it is also important. "

[Desmostro]

kind of pregnant dogy.

Would be cool to have Rossi on Ducati, but kind of a pregnant dogy reason.
Is he going to say they have to dump Casey then? wtf? They seem to like each other a bunch though.
Next year, the 3 are going to scrap somethin' fierce I predict.

[ducleaner]

This is bad news for Ducati fans and I hope it doesn't happen. JV is the unquestionable greatest ever but he's no longer a match for Stoner. Age does that. He's on a better bike and still losing more than he wins whenever Stoner shows up. If he thinks beating Jorge on an equal bike is hard, wait till he tries to race Stoner straight up on a Ducati. IMO, he won't tolerate it and force Stoner out of Ducati. That might be fine for a year or 2. But then what about when JV retires?

The future of Ducati is Stoner and I hope they realize that. As it stands, we all have the chance to see the torch passed between master and stude.... well, new master. If that happens, we have something to cheer in 2010 and 2011 and then a respectable and admirable ambassador to the sport after JV leaves.

[rafa]

Who is JV?

[monstercase]

i would like to see rossi on a ducati,mainly to see if he could ride it as good as stoner,nobody else can.
it is a big risk for rossi to go to ducati,what if he could not tame the beast,how would he be remembered then.i don't know if he really cares but it would tarnish his career somewhat.[everyone likes to go out a winner]
i beleive rossi is the greatest but i always go for stoner[riding ducati's and living in australia might have something to do with that]you got to go with your heart.
would'nt it be truly owesome to watch them both on dukes going for the title,there would be no greater spectical in my book.

[ducleaner]

Who is JV?

Unbelievable! I abbreviated VR as JV. I can't really explain that one. 

[ducleaner]

would'nt it be truly owesome to watch them both on dukes going for the title,there would be no greater spectical in my book.

Yeah, if Ducati keeps Stoner and simply adds Rossi, it's an awesome move. What a team that would be!