Rossi Ponders doing a Stoner
Battling a shoulder injury sustained in a motocross crash after the opening round of the MotoGP season in Qatar (the site of his only victory in 2010), Valentino Rossi is making noises that he may withdraw from the final two races of the season in order to undergo an operation. Reading between the lines however, it is clear that this move is yet another one designed to pressure Yamaha into releasing him from his contract so that he can test the Ducati Desmosedici GP bike immediately after the final round.
Last year, Casey Stoner missed three rounds of the MotoGP series mid season with a mysterious illness now thought to be lactose intolerance. Highly controversial at the time, when he returned he was immediately back on the pace, taking second place at Estoril and then winning at Phillip Island.
Although this season has been all about Jorge Lorenzo and his superiority to Rossi in the first three rounds (Rossi won in Qatar while Jorge was injured with Lorenzo winning the next two confrontations whilst Rossi was nursing his injured shoulder), pre-season testing suggested Rossi was on top and he was fastest at Mugello before his crash which resulted in a compound fracture to his right leg.
Much was made of Rossi’s fast return to the track following that injury but it has become increasingly clear that it is the long running shoulder issues that are now hampering the champion most as he battles to return to race winning form. Vale could do no better than 6th at Aragon, a circuit that admittedly saw all the Yamahas struggle at the new circuit.
In a post race discussion with the press, Rossi floated the idea of not competing in the final two rounds in order to have surgery to fix the problem. Recovery from the surgery would take two months. Although Rossi dresses it up, it is clear from his comments that he wants to pressure Yamaha to let him test the Ducati immediately following the final round in Valencia by threatening to not be present for the final two races and deny the Japanese company of his star power.
“We will wait to see the performance, because it looks like I cannot ride like I want, and I’m not fast enough anyway. But like I say, Phillip Island and Sepang are good tracks for to understand 100% if I am in a good way to finish the season, and maybe to try the bike after Valencia.“
link: Moto Matters
Limits on MotoGP testing means it will be a major setback for Rossi and Ducati if he has to wait until 2011 for his first ride on the Desmosedici. With the final round on November 7th and testing taking place the very next day, there is plenty of time for him to have shoulder surgery and recover in time for the 3, 2011 pre-season tests that will begin in February.
Whatever Yamaha’s decision however, perhaps ducatisti needn’t be too concerned. In 2003 Honda refused to release Rossi to ride the Yamaha and he won on his debut on a bike that was far less competitive in 2003 than the Ducati is this year. But you can’t blame the man for pulling out all the stops!
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