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Marquez joins fans in wishing Rossi who turns 39

The Italian legend, who is into his 19th year in the premier class of Grand Prix racing celebrated his birthday in Buriran, Thailand, where the second pre-season winter tests started.

Valentino Rossi

Bengaluru, February 16: MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi turned 39 on Friday (February 16) even as he continues to charm the motorsports world all over with his class and charisma.

The Italian legend, who is into his 19th year in the premier class of Grand Prix racing celebrated his birthday in Buriran, Thailand, where the second pre-season winter tests started.

Twitter was also abuzz with a flurry of birthday wishes for one of the all time greats in racing history.

Rossi's contract with Movistar Yamaha ends at the end of 2018 even as speculation continues over his future.

Rossi is known to be Yamaha's most successful rider as he enters a sixth consecutive year with the manufacturer since his return in 2013. Moreover, 2018 will be his 13th season with the team since he first joined Yamaha in 2004.

Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis has always remained coy about Rossi's future though he is hopeful that the nine-time world champion will stay beyond the current season.

"I can assure you that nothing is done at the moment but I imagine it won't be too long until Valentino's situation is clarified and I fully expect him to be with us again on the grid next year," Jarvis was quoted as saying in motorsport.com.

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez was just a toddler when Rossi started his racing career.

Marquez, who celebrates his birthday a day after Rossi, has always been in awe of Rossi and his longevity in the paddock. The Spaniard has often spoken how Rossi motivates others at this age and paid tributes to his one-time rival on the grid.

Marc Marquez

"It's something really impressive what Valentino is doing," he said.

"With Rossi turning 39 years, it's something impressive, something all the riders want to do because in the end, keeping the motivation, keeping the level during all those years, nobody did in the past.

"He is able every season to improve to keep the motivation, it's impressive," he added.

The 2018 season begins on March 18 under lights at the Losail circuit in Qatar.

Story first published: Saturday, February 17, 2018, 11:03 [IST]
Other articles published on Feb 17, 2018