Rossi, Ducati rumours heat up ?

No, next year Rossi will not be at Yamaha.



Jarvis is not going to let Lorenzo go anywhere (and Lorenzo does not want to go anywhere really, so that's a done deal).

Rossi would have stayed on at Yamaha, even with a difficult teammate like Lorenzo. But the assumption for such a scenario was that the difficult teammate could be beaten and Rossi would retain his #1 status, both politically and money wise.



The injury has changed all this, because surely this year it will be impossible for Rossi to beat Lorenzo. Then it will have to be seen if the injury is career-ending or not. Nobody can really know. Everybody says he will be as strong as before, but actually nobody can be sure of that. So, in the Yam garage, Rossi's values is going down and Lorenzo's is going up. It's a ruthless world.



Next year, how can Rossi sit in the same team with the new World Champion, who clearly will not accept to be any more #2 at Yamaha? A world champ other than himself, whom he would have to help pay with a 35% cut of his own salary? As Burgess would say, that's "highly unlikely"



So Rossi will go to Ducati, or to Ferrari, or most probably first to one, then to the other. The money is going to be what he's accustomed to, the #1 treatment as well, and if results will not come, well, it will be a great marketing operation anyway.

So, when will they release the "official" news on their choices?

To have Rossi as a brand ambassador after his retirement is very valuable to Yamaha. More Valuable than having Jorge on the bike for the next 3 years.



Yes, Jorge will win the championship this year, but he isn't even close to as valuable for selling bikes as Rossi is. And that's what this is all about, selling motorcycles. Let's not forget that.





So yes they could let Rossi go to Ducati. It will most definitely erase his legacy as a Yamaha rider. He'll ride maybe 2 years at Ducati, maybe win 1 championship if that and retire with his post retirement worth being 0.





If Yamaha let him go, they're stupid. Sign him to another 1 year contract and let him retire after that. If Jorge is smart he'll just play along for another year and then take title after title for the next 10 years on a Yamaha.



You guys are thinking very short term, I can guarantee you Yamaha isn't. They know how valuable Rossi is on and off a bike to their motorcycle brand. Winning championships is about selling bike, not winning championships.

Rossi_fan said:

To have Rossi as a brand ambassador after his retirement is very valuable to Yamaha. More Valuable than having Jorge on the bike for the next 3 years.



Yes, Jorge will win the championship this year, but he isn't even close to as valuable for selling bikes as Rossi is. And that's what this is all about, selling motorcycles. Let's not forget that.





So yes they could let Rossi go to Ducati. It will most definitely erase his legacy as a Yamaha rider. He'll ride maybe 2 years at Ducati, maybe win 1 championship if that and retire with his post retirement worth being 0.





If Yamaha let him go, they're stupid. Sign him to another 1 year contract and let him retire after that. If Jorge is smart he'll just play along for another year and then take title after title for the next 10 years on a Yamaha.



You guys are thinking very short term, I can guarantee you Yamaha isn't. They know how valuable Rossi is on and off a bike to their motorcycle brand. Winning championships is about selling bike, not winning championships.

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I may agree yamaha would prefer to retain Rossi for another year or two (so he ends his career there and remains associated with Yam forever as Furusawa said -- and also because it is always better not having him racing against you, isn't it ) -- but my point is that Vale will not stay at Yamaha with a world champ Lorenzo. He will rather leave.

J4rn0 said:

-- but my point is that Vale will not stay at Yamaha with a world champ Lorenzo. He will rather leave.

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Why not? I can't think of many good reasons compared to why he should stay

Tom said:

Why not? I can't think of many good reasons compared to why he should stay

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It's so obvious. Rossi has already said he didn't want to have Lorenzo as a teammate - and that

was when he was the reigning world champ and in perfect health. Everything has changed.

Lorenzo's going to be the next world champ and Rossi's ability to contend in the next season

is very much in question. Rossi's ego would never allow him be the #2 rider on any team

and there cannot be two #1s.



Frankly - I'd rather Rossi stayed at Yamaha and did his level best to take the

championship back from Lorenzo in 2011. To my mind, that would show real

character. It'd be the Thrilla From Manilla of MotoGP. But it appears that his

ego has driven him to make what seems likely to be a poor choice. It's not as

if taking a paycut for a year would do much damage to his wallet. If he fails at

Ducati there will no shortage of excuses. If he he wins a championship on a

Ducati - the Rossifans will be unbearable.

Keshav said:

It's so obvious. Rossi has already said he didn't want to have Lorenzo as a teammate - and that

was when he was the reigning world champ and in perfect health. Everything has changed.

Lorenzo's going to be the next world champ and Rossi's ability to contend in the next season

is very much in question. Rossi's ego would never allow him be the #2 rider on any team

and there cannot be two #1s.



Frankly - I'd rather Rossi stayed at Yamaha and did his level best to take the

championship back from Lorenzo in 2011. To my mind, that would show real

character. It'd be the Thrilla From Manilla of MotoGP. But it appears that his

ego has driven him to make what seems likely to be a poor choice. It's not as

if taking a paycut for a year would do much damage to his wallet. If he fails at

Ducati there will no shortage of excuses. If he he wins a championship on a

Ducati - the Rossifans will be unbearable.

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Well i just can't see Rossi leaving just because Lorenzo has started winning more, because i just don't see the power shift in Yamaha being that great in Lorenzo's favour. They are joint number 1 now, i would expect the same if they stayed together next year. Lorenzo has risen to Rossi's level, so i would expect Rossi to feel he has a point to prove, rather than a situation to escape from. I'd also expect Rossi to think that having Lorenzo in his team where he konws all the strengths and weaknesses and what the bike can do is a preference, rather than feeling he should rely on a different approach to be able to beat Lorenzo

Tom said:

Well i just can't see Rossi leaving just because Lorenzo has started winning more, because i just don't see the power shift in Yamaha being that great in Lorenzo's favour. They are joint number 1 now, i would expect the same if they stayed together next year. Lorenzo has risen to Rossi's level, so i would expect Rossi to feel he has a point to prove, rather than a situation to escape from. I'd also expect Rossi to think that having Lorenzo in his team where he konws all the strengths and weaknesses and what the bike can do is a preference, rather than feeling he should rely on a different approach to be able to beat Lorenzo

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Clearly you've never been in politics or run a business.

Keshav said:

Clearly you've never been in politics or run a business.

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No, and i certainly haven't managed a a competitive rider pairing in a motogp team, which is why im speculating like the rest of us. Ultimately my view boils down to me finding it odd that Rossi isn't an unquestioned figurehead in the sport anymore

yeah he's a has been

Tom said:

No, and i certainly haven't managed a a competitive rider pairing in a motogp team, which is why im speculating like the rest of us. Ultimately my view boils down to me finding it odd that Rossi isn't an unquestioned figurehead in the sport anymore

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The operative word here is "competitive". Marketing-wise - Rossi is a goldmine. But you need more than a figurehead to win championships. Rossi is now a big unknown, whereas Lorenzo is in driver's seat in every sense of the word. At this point - Rossi's unquestionability is a moot point. Yamaha has offered the bigger salary to Lorenzo. Jarvis' strategy for the future is clear. Until Rossi proves otherwise - he's damaged goods. Yamaha has made an expeditious business decision. It's not like Hollywood where a pregnant actress can wear black and be shot throughout the film from the neck up or like arthritic Roger Moore at the age of 62 having stuntmen do everything but the head shots in a Bond Movie. If Rossi at his age can't come back and compete at 100% - Yamaha won't give him top billing or top salary, no matter how much the fans love him. Even Ducati must be having second thoughts right about now.

Keshav said:

Marketing-wise - he is. But championship winning-wise - he is now a big unknown, whereas Lorenzo

is in driver's seat in every sense of the word. At this point - Ross's unquestionability is a moot point.

Yamaha has offered the bigger salary to Lorenzo. Jarvis' strategy for the future is clear. Until Rossi

proves otherwise - he's damaged goods.

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Unknown?



Be yee all of little faith aware..Mick Doohan was OLDER than Rossi when he took his 5 world titles AFTER his big crash where he almost lost a leg and went on to use a thumb lever for a rear brake... Unknown indeed.

xx CURVE xx said:

Unknown?

Be yee all of little faith aware..Mick Doohan took his 5 world titles AFTER his big crash where he almost lost a leg and went on to use a thumb lever for a rear brake... Unknown indeed.

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I know where you're coming from - and your faith is admirable. But you don't have billions of dollars

at stake when the checkered flag goes down. You don't have to go in front of boardroom full of stockholders

and tell them about the fabled Doohan comeback.

.... it, i say Rossi defects to WSBK and brings Spies, Stoner, Nick, Edwards, Simocheller, and Pedro over with him..

Keshav said:

I know where you're coming from - and your faith is admirable. But you don't have billions of dollars

at stake when the checkered flag goes down. You don't have to go in front of boardroom full of stockholders

and tell them about the fabled Doohan comeback.

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At this point win or lose the money rolls in, he's not even in attendence right now & the money is rolling in. They sold out of Rossi t-shirts at Mugello & Silverstone, I can't speak for Assen. Surely if it is a boadroom they have to convince then financial viability is all that will be taken into consideration?

xx CURVE xx said:

Unknown?

Mick Doohan was OLDER than Rossi when he took his 5 world titles AFTER his big crash where he almost lost a leg and went on to use a thumb lever for a rear brake... Unknown indeed.

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Umm ...... moot point ....... as we all know, Stoner is the new Doohan, not Rossi.

Keshav said:

Yamaha has offered the bigger salary to Lorenzo.

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Really? I thought they were giving Rossi a pay cut and Lorenzo a rise, but still paying Rossi about 1 million more? Do you know better?

Keshav said:

I...... If he he wins a championship on a

Ducati - the Rossifans will be unbearable.

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Keshav, I agree with what you say, but this preoccupation about the rossifans is so funny... Really, if Rossi could pull that one off, your main preoccupation would be the boppers? -- Why not simply enjoy what would be an incredible season...



Tom, your appreciation of riders's egos is a little moralistic. These guys are driven by their gigantic egos, How can Rossi stand a pay cut when he knows the money goes for the pay hike of his main competitor? Lorenzo is going to be the world champ and has Jarvis rooting for him inside Yamaha... What the hell, next year Yamaha would be a tough place to be for Rossi. He's a rider, and a rather shrewd manager of his own self -- he's not a zen monk looking for ordeals to overcome....

J4rn0 said:

What the hell, next year Yamaha would be a tough place to be for Rossi. He's a rider, and a rather shrewd manager of his own self -- he's not a zen monk looking for ordeals to overcome....

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Yea, but so far Rossi has risen to every challenge thats been made to him and even some he set out for himself. Obviously there is a limit and this could well be it, but i don't think i'll really believe it until i see it.

I think it is silly to say that Rossi is finished or is a has been and I have been adamant that Rossi would not go to Ducati because I could not see a reason big enough for him to take the risk. However, after more though I can now see a very big reason for him to move. Lorenzo. I will start by saying that I don't think Lorenzo is as good as Rossi or Stoner. But, Rossi has never faced a rider of Lorenzo's calibre on the exact same level of machinery as his at anytime in his career. Now that he has and it has been exposed that a good rider on equal machinery can match it with Rossi I think this has Rossi worried. Rossi, like all the others has always sought a technical advantage and to his credit has been able to gain one through his own skill at sorting a motorcycle and through the political clout that he has been able to earn through his success and popularity. This technical advantage now does not exist because he has a challenger taking advantage of the technical advantage that HE has put together through a lot of hard work and expenditure of political capital.



By switching to Ducati he has to start again with the work and the politics in a time when he shouldn't have to due to all he has done to build what he has and also in a time when he is probably boarder-line on wanting to start again.



The upside to the move as I see it is if Lorenzo continues to win then he wins on the bike that Rossi built and in a time when Rossi is having to start anew. If Rossi beats him then he owns Lorenzo's past wins because he delivered the bike that allowed Lorenzo to win which he couldn't continue to do once Rossi's input was removed. If Rossi can beat him on the Ducati especially if Stoner is not able to do so this year then Rossi will be elevated beyond GOAT status purely on this planet but will be the GOAT for the known universe as well at least in the eyes of the beloved boppers.