It’s Official: Valentino Rossi to continue chasing his elusive tenth world title with Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team in 2021
The winds have started to blow in the MotoGP 2020 season, and the biggest being the yellow flares breeze from Lesmo to Sepang. There has been enough shuffling of riders for the 2021 team- but the most significant has to be “The Doctor” making his move from the Factory Monster Energy Yamaha to the satellite Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team.
This move would be the fifth team for the 41-year-old rider having raced for the factory Honda and Ducati racing teams garnering nine world championships during his 25-year racing career. Fans have always associated Valentino Rossi with Yamaha, and they certainly not be disappointed seeing their racing god stay with the Yamaha brand.
Speaking on the switch, he said “I am very happy to continue riding in 2021 and to do it with the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team. I thought a lot before taking this decision because the challenge is getting hotter and hotter. To be at the top in MotoGP you have to work a lot and hard, to train every day and lead an 'athlete's life', but I still like it and I still want to ride! In the first half of the year, I made my choice and I talked with Yamaha, who agreed with me. They told me even if there was no place for me in the Factory Team, the factory bike and the factory support were guaranteed. I am very happy to move to Petronas Yamaha SRT. They are young, but they‘ve shown to be a top team. They are very serious and very well organized. For this year I also changed my crew chief. I‘m very happy with David, and I think we haven‘t reached our best yet. This was one of the reasons why I chose to continue because the atmosphere in the team is something I like a lot”
When asked about his thoughts of joining Franco Morbidelli as his teammate, he remarked “It'll be nice to have Franco as my teammate, as he's an Academy rider, it's going to be cool. I think we can work together to make good things happen.”Johan Stigefelt - Petronas Yamaha SRT Director said "To be able to sign a rider like Valentino Rossi, for what will be only our third year in the MotoGP championship, is amazing. We have evolved from a Moto3 team to a Moto2 team to a MotoGP team in a short time frame and now to be leading the MotoGP teams’ championship and signing one of the greatest riders the sport has ever known is incredible. It has been a long time since Valentino was in a satellite team, and we will try our best to help him feel like new again. We want to make sure that he feels comfortable in our team, which we trust in and believe in so much. Our target is to get even better as a team, help Rossi deliver the best results possible, and make 2021 a memorable year."
The Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team being just into its third year of racing in the premier class has made rapid progress and is currently topping the team standings ahead of the factory Yamaha. SRT rider Fabio Quartararo who would be swapping the seat with Rossi has won the first two races of the season and occupies second place in the rider’s championship- just one point shy of the Factory Ducati Rider Andrea Dovizioso. Teammate Franco Morbidelli is currently in fifth after comprehensively winning the San Marino Grand Prix. Yamaha has a locked out front row with Morbidelli, Quartararo, and Rossi in Barcelona for the Catalunya Grand Prix tomorrow.
Being one of the greatest to have ever raced in MotoGP, Valentino Rossi might not be in his prime racing with riders who were learning to walk when he was winning world championships. But with one podium finish and two top 5 finishes, this season has been nothing short of an accomplishment considering his age. His move and invaluable racing experience would only benefit the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, who seem well placed to win the 2020 constructors championship.