MotoGP News
Date:</b> 24/August/2012
Mr Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Racing, has cleared up some of the rumours surrounding MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi’s return to the team for 2013.
Speaking at Brno, venue for this weekend’s Czech Grand Prix, Jarvis revealed that it was Rossi - who has struggled since leaving Yamaha for Ducati at the end of 2010 - who made first contact.
Jarvis said: “The first point of contact came from Valentino’s side to Yamaha. There were some discussions in the background and the real negotiations began in July.
“Then Valentino made his decision in the week after Laguna Seca. So the final negotiation was quite short, because we know each other.
“The reason to have Valentino back is the seven years of excellent history we have together, when we won four titles and created a very positive image for Yamaha.”
Jarvis insisted there had been no outside influence from Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, which owns the commercial rights to MotoGP.
Ezpeleta had caused a stir earlier in the year by declaring that Rossi ‘would be on a competitive bike next season.’
“I can say that Carmelo had no influence whatever in the entire process. I have never discussed Valentino Rossi’s return with Carmelo still to this day,” said Jarvis.
Rossi won 46 races for Yamaha, but tension grew after the factory signed rising star Jorge Lorenzo for 2008.
Lorenzo went on to win the MotoGP title in 2010, the year Rossi broke his leg, and is leading this year’s series. The Spaniard signed a new two-year Yamaha deal earlier in the season.
Jarvis said: “We informed Jorge at Mugello that there looked like there was a possibility to contract Valentino.
“I think Jorge would have preferred to keep Ben [Spies], and that was the way we were going in our early planning.
“But finally Jorge respected Yamaha’s decision to bring back Valentino and it is up to us to manage the situation.
“We consider Jorge to be the most capable rider to win the world championship for Yamaha in the next two seasons. But both riders will have exactly equal treatment and equipment.”
Jarvis added that having Rossi at the front of the MotoGP field would give the whole sport a welcome boost.
Jarvis said: “Valentino on a competitive motorcycle will be very popular for MotoGP. This sport is going through difficult times and it is not aided by seeing the most popular rider in world down in sixth, seventh or eighth place.”
Jarvis is also confident that the relationship between Rossi and Lorenzo will be smoother the second time around.
Jarvis said: “Previously, Valentino was the number one and Jorge the arriving youngster. That created tensions. I think the dynamic will be different this time.
“We have explained that we don’t want to see any situations where our riders will be endangering the result of the other. I not saying the next two seasons will be easy, but I believe we can manage it.”
The Englishman predicts Rossi will win races next season, but isn’t sure the Italian legend can clinch a tenth world championship title.
Rossi won the 125cc and 250cc crowns prior to joining the premier-class in 2000.
Jarvis said: “Nobody knows how competitive Valentino will be. Jorge has two more years under his belt and is very fast and consistent. Dani [Pedrosa] is riding superbly. Unfortunately Casey [Stoner] won’t be there, but there are a lot of young fast riders.
“My opinion is that he can definitely win races next season. Can he win a tenth championship? Time will tell…”
Rossi, 33, is expected to make his Yamaha return during the test immediately after the final round of the season, at Valencia in November.
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