4 Races Before Summer Break Will Determine Rossi's Future In MotoGP

Valentino Rossi (Instagram @ valeyellow46)

JAKARTA - Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi said he would soon decide his future career in MotoGP by looking at the results of the four races before the summer break at the end of June.

At the age of 42, Rossi doesn't want to take off his uniform yet to undergo his 22nd season racing in the premier class, this year as a racer for the Petronas Yamaha SRT satellite team.

Even though he is not a factory team racer, Rossi still has the full support of Yamaha who gave him a factory-spec motorbike.

"Now is an important period in the championship because there are four races in five weeks and also as you said, on important tracks like Mugello, Barcelona, and Assen, and after that ... one month break," said Rossi at the press conference ahead of the event. The Italian Grand Prix on Thursday as reported by the official MotoGP website.

Who's backed the right team and who'll be destined to miss out on glory! 🤔

The riders made their predictions ahead of this weekend's #UCLFinal during #MotoGPSocial in Thursday's press conference! ⚽#ItalianGP 🇮🇹| #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/tGSCKmme0O

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 27, 2021

"And of course during that time everyone started thinking for 2022 so as I said at the start, I will make a decision, but also it is not only my decision but I also have to talk to the Petronas team and also Yamaha to understand what their plans are for next year.

"Of course for now these four races will be very important to try to get good results," he concluded.

Arriving at Mugello, Rossi hopes to show the progress he has found in the Jerez test, after erratic weather conditions prevented the Petronas Yamaha rider from feeling his true potential at Le Mans two weeks ago, in order to reap the points to lift himself from 19th in the standings. currently with a collection of only nine points.

The Doctor has a number of fond memories at Mugello and an impressive streak including seven consecutive wins in 2002-2008 and 11 podiums in the MotoGP class.

Mugello was forced to cancel hosting the Italian Grand Prix in 2020 due to the pandemic and this year he is returning to the MotoGP calendar even though there will be no fans watching live in the circuit stands.

After Mugello, MotoGP will visit the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit on June 6, followed by the German GP at the Sachsenring on June 20, and the Dutch GP at the Assen Circuit on June 27 before a one-month break.

The second half of the season will continue with the Austrian GP on August 8.