Rossi Rules Out WRC Move... Yet

Valentino Rossi insisted that his career in MotoGP is far from being over and a future switch to the World Rally Championship could only be taken into consideration after a considerable number of years. Although he admitted that rallying is his second favorite sport of all, the 5-time world champion revealed that he has other plans in the upcoming years, all connected to the MotoGP series.

“I have always loved rallying, ever since I was little. It is one of my great passions and it is great to do one when I have the time and the chance. always enjoy it a lot and probably, when I have given up the bikes and when I have the chance to improve and I have more time, I will do more... but it's not a close future, because I still want to race with the bike for a few more years,” admitted Rossi in an interview through Yamaha's online presentation of their 2009 MotoGP team.

Rossi's latest experience in rallying took place in his home rally last year – Rally Great Britain, as he is an UK resident – where he drove a Ford Focus RS WRC for Stobart Ford all the way into 12th overall. It was his third participation in the WRC, following his Subaru drive in Rally New Zealand in 2006 (where he finished 11th overall) and his 2002 Rally Great Britain (crashed out in SS2). He also won two editions of the annual Monza Rally (2006 and 2007).

Although he had tested a Ferrari car in Formula 1 back in 2006, Rossi reaffirmed his commitment to MotoGP racing and denied switching to the Scuderia in the near future.

“In 2006 I decided to stay with the bike and, of course, I still have some doubts, but just to climb inside the red car at Mugello and work with Ferrari was fantastic. As I said before, I had my chance and I decided to stay with bikes. The choice is made and I don't think that there will be another possibility. My principal objective is to win a few more world championships,” concluded the Italian.