"Some things make me smile," said Rossi for Italian paper Repubblica. "Sometimes rumours are based on the truth, but not in this case. I don't even understand how these rumours started, maybe they're based on false hopes. Many would be happy for me to move to Ducati, but there's no truth in it.”
These speculations claimed the Italian rider would have signed a deal for a new additional Ducati works team, sponsored by Ducati’s major backer Philip Morris. This alleged deal also gave Rossi’s long-time engineer Jerry Burgess as well as other key personnel involved in the switch.
But Valentino Rossi unequivocally played down the speculations, further revealing that Yamaha MotoGP boss Masao Furusawa even made him an offer beyond 2011, but he would rather take his time until next summer to make a decision.
"In 2010 I'm staying at Yamaha 100 per cent for two reasons I care to clarify. First of all, I have contractual obligations with Yamaha: my contract ties me for next year too, and I can't see any way out. The second reason is even more important: I have no intention to leave Yamaha in 2010. And besides, we are already talking about the future," explained Valentino Rossi.
"In Portugal Furusawa put on the plate the idea of an extension by practically asking me to end my career in Yamaha. It was an offer that pleased me,” revealed the Italian rider.
“As I said in Misano already, I'll decide my future only in June next year. That's because, before taking certain decisions, I must understand whether I still want to carry on racing bikes or if I want to change path."
Rossi didn’t rule out a possible switch to Ducati in the future, but insisted that for 2010 he will be riding for Yamaha. As the Italian clearly stated, he has until next summer to decide what he’ll do beyond 2011.
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