Valentino Rossi Scream Ducati Desmosedici

Italian MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi is now officially a Ducati Rider after seeing his Yamaha contract run out.

Rossi is bidding to become the first rider to win World Titles with 3 different manufacturers having already claimed titles with Yamaha and Honda to boot.

VALENTINO ROSSI AND DUCATI TOGETHER FROM 2011

Ducati and Valentino Rossi have signed a two year agreement for the nine-times World Champion to race with the “Rossa” of Borgo Panigale in the Ducati Marlboro Team from 2011.

The arrival of Valentino in Ducati opens a new and exciting chapter in the Italian factory’s sporting history and, indeed, of the whole MotoGP Championship. The opportunity of lining-up such an extraordinary rider and character is considered by Ducati to be a huge value to the whole Ducati MotoGP project.

“We are delighted to announce that Valentino Rossi will be with us from 2011,” commented Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding. “He is a paragon of excellence in the world of motorcycling, coherent with our Italian company which is a standard-bearer for “made in Italy” excellence. These are key values for success in technology, design and sportsmanship. In addition to the strong and passionate intent of both parties, this agreement has been made possible by the committed support of our shareholder Investindustrial and all the sponsors associated with the Ducati Marlboro Team, sponsors which have believed in this opportunity and share and support our choices.”

“Firstly, Valentino is a great fan of motorcycles and so it has always been a pleasure for me to listen his opinions,” said Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse General Director. “Until the Valencia GP he will remain a competitor, one so great that he has always given a special value to our victories, but as soon as he rides the Ducati for the first time, we will work together on every single detail that will develop a bike capable of showing his huge talent. Working with Valentino is one of the most exciting things for every Engineer and it’s good to know we will have this great opportunity next season.”

Rossi Interview :- 

Q: You have already been in contact with Ducati in the past, there have been discussions years ago, and there was never a positive outcome. You said already that they have changed, they are much more open. What exactly is it that you need to work well with Ducati?

VR: So, with my experience I know what I need in the contract to be calm and work in the right way, and like I say before this time Ducati is a lot more open to find a compromise.

Q: Can you give us a details about what the changes were?

VR: Ah, yes, so, first I heard somewhere that it is a money choice, but I want to say that this is not true, because the money I will take from Ducati is exactly the same money as Yamaha offered. So there is no difference, zero difference. It means also PR days and days of work outside the Grand Prix and work into the weekend, all these things.

Q: How important is it to take your crew with you? Is that confirmed now?

VR: No, for me it's important but it is a crew choice, because everybody have different age, different program for the future, so they have to decide.

Q: What are your feelings? Will Jeremy come with you?

VR: I hope yes, but I don't know.

Q: Both you and Casey are switching bikes at the end of this year, will you be asking for more testing?

VR: I think there is already a plan for more testing next year, because everybody understands that like this it is not enough. So we test less than half than Superbike, more than less than half! So before we had too much testing maybe, but now, in general no tests. And also for this reason, I expect that Yamaha will let me try the Ducati in Valencia, because our story is a different story, and I give more to Yamaha from 2004 to now, I improve a lot the bike and all the team, so if they are fair, they have to say yes for my test in Valencia.

Q: Next year when you race the Ducati, you'll be 32, 7 years older than when you made your last change. Is this going to be more difficult than the last time?

VR: For me, is easier about bike, because for sure the Ducati is more competitive than the M1 in 2003, but more difficult about me, because I am older, and I have very strong rivals. But we have to try, no?

Q: You've always been curious in the past about trying the Ducati. What are you most looking forward to about riding the Ducati?

VR: So, I think that, I always speak with Preziosi, with Filippo, and I see in him the similar behavior that I saw in Furusawa in 2004. So he want me and he trust in me and he think that together we can improve the Ducati, so I'm curious. I think this year the bike become a little bit easier to ride, but I think we can modify the bike like we want.

Q: Casey now has not won for 11 races on the Ducati. Are you worried that perhaps the Ducati does not have the potential?

VR: For me, the potential of the Ducati is quite good, is similar to Yamaha, maybe the M1 is a bit better. So I change from a better bike to a little bit worse bike, but not a big difference.

Q: So you think it should be winning races now.

VR: I have to try, but I think it is not impossible.