Valentino Rossi is about to start his 22nd season in the World Championship, 18th in the maximum class of the championship - in 2001, the year of debut, still 500cc; From 2002 onwards, MotoGP. In Qatar, when given the start the Italian will be 38 years old.
By the end of 2018, when the current bond with Yamaha ends, Rossi will be 39 years old. So far, the Italian has not yet said what he plans to do at the end of the contract. However, the world champion made it clear that, even after leaving MotoGP, the idea is to stay on track.
In the tracks, Rossi has a priority: to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In an interview promoted by Yamaha with Lin Jarvis, head of the Japanese team, conducting and asking the questions, the Italian also revealed the desire to play the Dakar in the future, but in the cars.
"One goal I have is to compete for the Dakar in the future, but it is very difficult and requires a lot of preparation. Anyway, I'm clear in my mind that I would do it in a car, because motorcycle is too dangerous. My priority is to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans, because I feel much better on the asphalt, "he said.
After that, Jarvis asked about his quest for Formula One. In the end, Rossi decided to stay in MotoGP and, questioned by Jarvis if there was any kind of regret, the Italian did not hesitate to say that he made the right decision.
"I made the right decision to stay in MotoGP in 2006 and I was a champion twice more, playing great races and taking part in tough battles, so I do not regret it," he said.
"But I remember being on the plane, coming back from the tests, and coming to the conclusion that I was not ready to leave the bikes "He added.
Next Monday, Rossi joins the rest of the MotoGP grid to start pre-season testing at Sepang.