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I heard the commentators during qualifying saying that Rossi had been linked with Gresini Honda for the rest of the season. Others are at least giving him the rest of this season on Ducati...
Valentino Rossi pooh-poohed rumours that surfaced during the summer break that he had approached Honda for a machine for next year, planning to bale out of his second year of the Ducati contract that has so far yielded little in the way of results. The rumours broke when former GP rider Marco Melandri was quoted as saying that Rossi had contacted Fausto Gresini.
“I read the reports, from my new manager, the Superbike rider Marco Melandri” Rossi said at the Czech Republic GP. “He knows very well all things about my decision for next year.”
When the laughter subsided, he was unequivocal.
“I have a contract with Ducati for next year. If Melandri agrees.”
Some suspected him of being disingenuous. Asked if he had approached Honda for the year after that, when he would be free of ties, he said: “Sincerely, it is much too soon to be thinking of 2013.”
He admitted that there were times when he felt demotivated because of the results, “but when I am home I think we can fix our problems. If hope stops, then it becomes like work. It’s frustrating. But hope never dies.”
Michael Scott
Cycle News - August 16, 2011
Valentino Rossi pooh-poohed rumours that surfaced during the summer break that he had approached Honda for a machine for next year, planning to bale out of his second year of the Ducati contract that has so far yielded little in the way of results. The rumours broke when former GP rider Marco Melandri was quoted as saying that Rossi had contacted Fausto Gresini.
“I read the reports, from my new manager, the Superbike rider Marco Melandri” Rossi said at the Czech Republic GP. “He knows very well all things about my decision for next year.”
When the laughter subsided, he was unequivocal.
“I have a contract with Ducati for next year. If Melandri agrees.”
Some suspected him of being disingenuous. Asked if he had approached Honda for the year after that, when he would be free of ties, he said: “Sincerely, it is much too soon to be thinking of 2013.”
He admitted that there were times when he felt demotivated because of the results, “but when I am home I think we can fix our problems. If hope stops, then it becomes like work. It’s frustrating. But hope never dies.”
Michael Scott
Cycle News - August 16, 2011