Rossi to retire. (at end of 2014)

[ducmon]

According to Foxsports, Rossi is after a 2 year extension with Ducati and retiring at the end of the 2014 season.

[mcmurray]

Think there's another championship in him?

[vbroom]

if its with ducati, unfortunately not. too much young talent of superior machines.

assuming this news is true of course.

[Old frt]

Pre season shenanigans, he's fishing for a better ride.

[Rick76]

If the new Ducati actually shows some promise he might consider an extension, otherwise he will either retire from bikes and switch to 4 wheels, change bike/team, or go play in WSBK.

Why would he hang around for more punishment if his 2012 season is not a huge improvement over 2011.

Let's hope Ducati have come up with something he can ride.

[Aufitt]

Pre season shenanigans, he's fishing for a better ride.

Yep, hopefully a Honda alongside Stacey in 2013.

[Desmo]

Think there's another championship in him?

Nope. He's an also-ran now.

[Trashed]

Let's hope Ducati have come up with something he can ride.

To be fair, I think towards the end of last year's season Jeremy Burgess was trying to diplomatically suggest that a lack of communication from Rossi was hampering the development of the bike over the season. You can't blame it all on the bike?

[96]

To be fair, I think towards the end of last year's season Jeremy Burgess was trying to diplomatically suggest that a lack of communication from Rossi was hampering the development of the bike over the season. You can't blame it all on the bike?

Careful, when I pointed this out I was shunned.

Can't see him going wsbk. For 'the goat' that would be a step backwards, and would look like GP, the elite, was too hard.

Personally, I'd say he's done at the end of this year.

[irdizzle]

Yep, hopefully a Honda alongside Stacey in 2013.

Honda officially said it had no interest in Rossi's services... Yamaha too. I'd love to see him dice it up with Biaggi in SBK tho

[Desmo]

Honda officially said it had no interest in Rossi's services... Yamaha too.

I don't think anyone would honestly want the little prima donna riding for them nowadays.
His days of brilliance have gone and if he doesn't retire, he's just going to continue to embarrass himself further.

[Old frt]

I don't think anyone would honestly want the little prima donna riding for them nowadays.
His days of brilliance have gone and if he doesn't retire, he's just going to continue to embarrass himself further.

Sad but true, how many sporting champions have not seen the writing on the wall?
Glad I quit before I became a household name

[Trashed]

I don't think anyone would honestly want the little prima donna riding for them nowadays.
His days of brilliance have gone and if he doesn't retire, he's just going to continue to embarrass himself further.

You're probably right, but I wonder how much the "Rossi brand" is still worth? He remains one of the most popular riders and must be worth a significant amount in terms of sponsorship and merchandise. But you can only test people's patience so much. I think if he doesn't deliver in 2012, his career is all but over.

[Rick76]

You can't blame it all on the bike?

I don't, but he went from being consistently top 3 to mid-pack, so I still believe if he was back on a Yamaha or Honda tomorrow he would be right back amongst it. It doesn't really matter who is to blame, the fact is him and the Ducati dont get on (so far) so hopefully they can improve that between them this year. Otherwise Rossi and Hayden's previous reputation as the best 'development riders' in GP will be tarnished even further and so will the Ducati brand.... and Casey's stocks will rise even higher for getting results on that dog of a bike that everyone else hated and achieved nothing on.

In the end Ducati are building the bike, so the ultimate responsibility lies with them to produce something that their riders can set up to a level they are comfortable enough with to push hard and challenge the others. Loris was the only rider to get decent results on the 990 Ducati (apart from Bayliss once) and Casey on the 800, everyone else was nowhere.

The sport needs VR up front as there are still plenty of 'fans' who follow the sport purely because of him. Simoncelli would have been the natural progression for the one eyed Rossi fans to move on to but is gone now (RIP). Even for those who dont like VR, think he is up himself, always had the best team/equipment, tall poppy, etc, must have seen enough struggling by now. I would rather see him back at the front occasionally fighting with Stoner/Lorenzo/Pedrosa and hopefully anyone else who can step up. He has probably had enough humble pie now I still want Casey to beat him though

[Trashed]

I don't, but he went from being consistently top 3 to mid-pack, so I still believe if he was back on a Yamaha or Honda tomorrow he would be right back amongst it.

Maybe? But both Yamaha and Honda don't want him. Maybe they don't think he could regain his former glory?

[96]

The sport needs VR up front as there are still plenty of 'fans' who follow the sport purely because of him.

Um, no...

[Trashed]

Um, no...

Careful, there might be another shunning brewing.......

[96]

Maybe? But both Yamaha and Honda don't want him. Maybe they don't think he could regain his former glory?

Would you take back a rider who left a good thing to;

1) prove that he could? (all credit due here, the effort with yamaha was great, but none the less, I doubt Honda was happy.

2) couldn't accept being 2nd best, had a whine and divided a team?

I sure as hell wouldn't.

Edit:more aimed at what you quoted, than what you said, just another reason the factories might not want him.

[Old frt]

Nobody can question Rossis talent and achievements, but to be honest he is not the rider he once was and nor should anybody expect more of him.
Time to hang up the leathers, perhaps start his own team and use his experience to help the development of up and coming young guns.
He is still relatively young but that fire in the belly is no longer there.

[Trashed]

^^^ Problem is, the Rossi fans are so loyal many of them refuse to face reality.