Rossi Denies Retiring From MotoGP

Valentino Rossi (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - 7-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has denied speculation that he will retire from the motorbike racing event at the end of the season, saying he will sign a new contract with the Petronas Yamaha team.

Rossi, 41, will leave the factory Yamaha team after the 2020 season is complete but is ready to take a seat at Petronas Yamaha, swapping places with young French racer Fabio Quartararo.

The Italian racer is looking forward to the announcement of his new contract at the Catalunya Grand Prix in the next two weeks.

"That's not true," said Rossi about the rumors of retirement, at a press conference at the San Marino Grand Prix, reported by Antara, Friday, September 11.

"We spent time with Yamaha because we weren't in a rush and we had something to work out. But we are very close to signing that and I will race Petronas next year.

"I want to say if it is 99 percent because it has not been signed. But I think maybe in Barcelona we can announce it," said Rossi.

Previously, Petronas Yamaha team boss Razlan Razali reiterated that he was waiting for the confirmation of his contract with Valentino Rossi as well as dismissing rumors that the satellite team was eyeing Andrea Dovizioso to replace Quartararo's position, and became Franco Morbidelli's partner.

Dovi did not renew his contract with Ducati after this year and has yet to find a team to race next year.

"To straighten out, we are not considering Dovi at all for 2021," Razali said via social media.