Rossi may call time on career after two seasons

Bengaluru/Doha, March 5: Though legendary rider Valentino Rossi has always remained coy about his future in the sport, as a new FIM MotoGP World Championship season is about to start, the nine-time world champion hinted that he may call time on his stellar career after two years.

"I'll probably race for the next two years," Rossi told local media on the sidelines of the final MotoGP pre-season winter tests at the Losail circuit in Qatar.

The 39-year-old was responding to Tech 3's decision to end their long-standing relationship with Yamaha and whether he would consider starting his own satellite team.

"We'll talk about the team later when I stop - but not in 2019 or 2020. For the next two years I won't have a team in MotoGP, because most likely I'll still be racing," Rossi added, while making it amply clear that his florescent VR46 bike will be on the grid till at least 2021.

The Movistar Yamaha rider, who has won nine world titles across all categories including five in a row, finished seventh in the Qatar tests which were held under wet conditions and was quite pleased with his efforts.

"I'm quite happy after this test. I think I've worked hard in these last few days. We're all still very close in the time sheets, there're many riders who're strong. We've to try to understand what'll happen from that point until the start of the season," said Rossi about his outing at the 5.3 km floodlit circuit.

With Movistar Yamaha yet to extend his current contract, uncertainty continues over Rossi's future.

But the man who is fondly known as 'The Doctor' in the paddock circles, has put to rest all the retirement speculations for now till 2021 with his single comment, "most likely I'll still be racing till then."

Resilience has been Rossi's forte and it was much evident last season when he made a quick comeback to Grand Prix racing after breaking his leg during a training accident.

Motorsports buffs will welcome Rossi's decision for sure and all eyes will be once again on him as the new FIM MotoGP World Championship season begins under lights at the Losail circuit in Qatar on March 18.