Vale's other options revealed..

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A meeting with journalists, with the prospect of two further years with Yamaha ahead of him. Valentimo Rossi is happy with his choice, but doesn't hide the fact that other contacts, this time under a veil of silence, did in effect take place.
"Yes, let's say the possibilities to change were there. It could have been Honda but it could even have been Ducati who I've had contact with. The second option could even have been interesting.
It's an Italian brand, fascinating, and I have immense admiration for Filippo Preziosi who I know very well. In the end I chose to stay here, where I have an exceptional team and good relationships. Trying to beat Stoner with his own bike wouldn't have been very original. We need to beat him like this, with the Yamaha"

Negotiations which you carried out on your own?
"Well yes. Now yes. But I didn't miss my manager. I even gave myself a nice percentage as my own manager!" Valentino added jokingly.

Two years are a long time. Don't you think you might find other stimuli elsewhere?
"I had the possibility to choose. I chose serenely for two years because I'm very happy here and I think that I can find other stimuli with Yamaha. I'd like to race for at least two more years. Then maybe, if I'm still having fun, even another two!"

What do you think of Pedrosa's going back home?
"I imagine he did well. Over here if you're not ok it's really tough. I know something about it. The michelins he had I'm told would have made him struggle, so rather than come in twelfth I understand that he might have preferred to give it a miss."

Tomorrow's race on the attack? Or will you be happy with a second place?
"No, I wouldn't sign up for a second place. We're not too badly sorted. No, I still wouldn't settle for a second place. I'd certainly want to do better than that single 3rd I've managed here."

I'm wondering whether in fact this revelation might have been the last straw for Casey, maybe fuelling his apres-race outburst.
If all negotiations were really kept under wraps it can't have been nice for Casey to find out that Ducati would have wanted Valentino on their team. Because unlike Marco, Valentino would not be a 'token italian' (as some would say), but a real and proper threat within.
I am a great admirer of Casey (if not his whingeing ways), because whether it's skill or TC, he either has the brains or the guts to make that Duc go...in my book both get a favourable vote. But I think that despite his exterior nonchalance and the confidence he tries to exude, he is not that sure of himself. Case in point being the fuss he kicked up when Rossi moved to Bridgestone. Instead of shutting up or welcoming the challenge he whined about it not being fair. Ouch! That's Australian for "I'm scared that this year was a fluke and if you have my same tyres you're going to beat me".
When Stoner won the championship and included Rossi on his 'heroes' t-shirt, I wondered whether he was catching on to the mindgame playing tactics. Putting Rossi on there with Doohan might have been saying "you're great" but it also might have been saying "You USED TO BE great", in other words you are now past it. But now I think not. I think he was being naively honest. It must be a weird sensation to be the one who finally shakes up someone who is percieved by so many as being one of the greatest of all time, to be the one who really takes the challenge to him, and not somehow be intimidated by it. Casey is Valentino's first proper real elbow to elbow threat in ages, and he should feel good about that.
I for one would have loved to see Rossi on the Duc. And when he says that he'll then race 'maybe another 2 years', somehow I harbour the hope that he will end his career at Ducati.