Sumber: Reuters - Tue, 17 Aug 00:26:00 2010
MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi said he was moving to Italian
team Ducati because his work with Yamaha was finished and they no
longer needed him.
Rossi, one of Italy's most famous sports personalities, will race for
Ducati next year on a two-year contract. He has been with Yamaha since
2004.
He told reporters at the Czech circuit in Brno, scene of the previous
day's Grand Prix: "I'm happy, I'm very curious and very motivated.
This new challenge, I think, will be very interesting - especially
because I think that at Yamaha my work is finished."
Rossi added: "We changed the situation from 2004 a lot. Yamaha have
great riders so it looks like they don't need me any more."
Clear championship leader Jorge Lorenzo of Spain also rides for Yamaha.
A vacancy at Ducati arose after Australia's Casey Stoner said last
month he would be leaving for Honda next year.
Looking forward to 2011, Rossi said: "I think an Italian rider on an
Italian bike is great for all the Italian fans and I think we will
have a lot of cheering from all the Italian fans."
Yamaha managing director Lin Jarvis added: "Unfortunately he's made
finally the choice to go and ride for Ducati next year so it was a sad
day yesterday because although we've known about his decision for some
weeks nevertheless when you make the final public announcement it
becomes a fact."
Reuters.
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