JAPAN/FILE: MOTORCYCLE RACING - MotoGP champ Rossi plans to start new career on four wheels

Record ID: 465387

  • Title: JAPAN/FILE: MOTORCYCLE RACING - MotoGP champ Rossi plans to start new career on four wheels
  • Date: 23rd April 2009
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (APRIL 22, 2009) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) VALENTINO ROSSI, MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPION, SAYING: "I have a great relationship with Ford. With all the guys of the team, last year in December, I raced in the Wales Rally, and in Monza, and last year, two years ago, three years ago, also with Ford. So maybe it's Ford." ROSSI'S EYES (SOUNDBITE) (English) VALENTINO ROSSI, MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPION, SAYING: "And after, I think, the summer of 2010, I will decide about my future because I don't know yet." ROSSI TALKING TO REPORTER
  • Embargoed: 8th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9R4VTH4CMUECO72EDB6Z6KPM
  • Story Text: MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi says he could drive for Ford in the world rally championship in the future.
    Italian Valentino Rossi, the world's fastest man on two wheels, is planning a career on four wheels once he is done with motorcycling.
    The MotoGP world champion, who signed two-year deal with Yamaha last July, said he could drive for Ford in the world rally championship in the future.

    "I don't think it's Formula One because now it's too late. But I hope to have the second part of my career with the car because it's always my great passion. And I grew up on the side of my father that drives rally cars.
    So I hope when I finish with bikes I have another 10 years with the car,"
    Rossi told Reuters in an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday (April 22) ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
    The six-times premier class motorcycling world champion has tested for Ferrari several times and said he seriously considered a move to Formula One three years ago.

    "I had my chance to go into Formula One at the end of 2006. I spoke a lot with Ferrari. But I decided to stay with bikes, so it means that me and Formula One are finished," Rossi said, adding that he plans to focus on rally championships.
    The 30-year-old, who has driven in the rally world championship for Ford, said Ford is likely to stay as his partner.

    "I have a great relationship with Ford. With all the guys of the team, last year in December, I raced in the Wales Rally, and in Monza, and last year, two years ago, three years ago, also with Ford. So maybe it's Ford."
    Rossi said that he would finalise his decision next year.

    "And after, I think, the summer of 2010, I will decide about my future because I don't know yet," he said, Meanwhile, Rossi insisted he had lost none of his hunger for MotoGP, targeting fellow Italian Giacomo Agostini's record of 122 motorcycle race wins during the 1960s and 1970s. Rossi currently has 97 victories in top flight racing.
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