Kawasaki exit a shock for riders

Marco Melandri and John Hopkins have both been taken aback by news that Kawasaki is set to confirm its withdrawal from MotoGP within days.

As autosport.com reported on Tuesday, Kawasaki is expected to announce early next week that it is to withdraw from MotoGP because of the worldwide economic downturn.

The shock news will leave both Hopkins and Melandri without rides in 2009 - with neither rider knowing what their plans now are for the year ahead.

Melandri's manager Alberto Vergani said that the Kawasaki decision had probably been made just before Christmas - and revealed that his Italian rider had already been offered to Gresini.

"Nobody expected it: the racing department had been strengthened following Marco's suggestions. There were engine evolutions, and (Olivier) Jacque had run with the new bike," Vergani told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Marco was feeling treated like a king.

"It looks like the decision was taken on December the 24th in Japan...However, I've offered Marco for free to Gresini, if he wants him..."

The chances of a Gresini switch for Melandri appear slim, however, with team boss Fausto Gresini playing the idea down.

"Marco and his manager made their decision in Brno when they refused my offer,” Gresini told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I'm not a salesman.”

Hopkins has also been linked with Gresini, but said that it was too early for him to know what was really going on.

Speaking to American website cyclenews.com, Hopkins said: “I heard it’s up in the air, but I haven’t heard anything confirmed yet.

“I got some calls from the team manager [Michael Bartholemy] and he said that everything could be up in the air as to whether they run it or not, but nothing has been confirmed. I don’t know what it would do to me. I’m really not sure.

“I’ve been talking to my managers and seeing what the plan is and they’ve been on the phone to Japan trying to figure it out as well. Right now I’m still contracted to them so I’m not sure what the plan is.”

There is speculation that Jorge Martinez could be involved in a potential private bid to run the Kawasaki bikes and operation - perhaps with some financial help from MotoGP organisers Dorna.

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Kawasaki poised to quit MotoGP

Kawasaki is poised to withdraw from the MotoGP World Championship with immediate effect, autosport.com has learned.

According to sources, the Japanese manufacturer is set to make an announcement regarding its plans for 2009 on Monday, January 5, when it is expected to confirm details of its withdrawal from the premier motorcycle racing class.

It remains unclear why Kawasaki is quitting, though both the global economic crisis and a lack of results are likely to have been factors in the decision.

The news is a blow to MotoGP's organisers, who will have the number of factory teams reduced to four at a time when the rival World Superbike Championship has gained another two in Aprilia and BMW.

Kawasaki's imminent withdrawal will leave Marco Melandri and John Hopkins without a ride for next season. Melandri had hoped to revive his career with the team after a catastrophic season with the factory Ducati squad in 2008.

"I have to wait and hear some words, as at the moment I hear nothing," Melandri told autosport.com.

"If it is true, then I can only hope that when I wake up on January 1st it is all a nightmare."

Kawasaki returned to the premier MotoGP class in 2003 with bold plans to become regular contenders, but has so far failed to record a victory in the premier class.

The closest the team came were three second places in three years with Randy de Puniet (Motegi 2007), Shinya Nakano (Assen 2006) and Olivier Jacque (Shanghai 2005).

Kawasaki secured big-money signing John Hopkins from Suzuki at the beginning of 2008 and it was hoped that this would trigger an upturn in results. But the American was hampered by injuries and both he and teammate Anthony West struggled with the inconsistent handling of the ZX-RR.

In the end, fifth places for Hopkins (at Estoril) and West (at Brno) were the best the team could manage.

Nevertheless, Kawasaki was set to enter 2009 with optimism, having landed former GP-winner Melandri, alongside the fired-up Hopkins to lead the development of the ZZ-XR in the new one-make tyre era.

Kawasaki's withdrawal will be the fourth time a Japanese manufacturer has pulled out of a major motorsport category in recent weeks. Honda announced in early December that it was quitting Formula One, while Subaru and Suzuki confirmed later in the month that they were stopping their programmes in the World Rally Championship.

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250cc: Simoncelli planning SBK outing

Marco Simoncelli is planning to take part in the first two rounds of the World Superbike Championship next season with Aprilia.

The 250cc world champion, who had already raced in Superbikes in 2002, races a Gilera-badged Aprilia in the world championship.

"Aprilia have asked me to run in the first two races of the Superbike championship in 2009, because they care a lot for it," Simoncelli told Motosprint magazine.

"I've long thought about it and I think I'm going. Yes, I really think I'll race there because I like the idea of experiencing that."

The Italian already tested the Aprilia RSV4 at Valencia earlier this year.

"I really liked the bike," he said. "It's fun, it's quick, and it's easier than a 250cc because its power output is smoother. At Valencia I did just a few laps, without practically touching the set-up and in fact engine braking was disabled, yet I was quick immediately.

"So, the potential is there. The idea of racing it, at this point, is making me eager to do it."

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125cc: FIM changes age limit from 2010

Motorcycling's governing body, FIM, has announced a change to the age limit to compete in the world championship from 2010.

Currently, riders can start competing in the 125cc category at 15, but FIM has announced the age limit will increase to 16 in two years' time.

The limit for 250 and MotoGP will remain unchanged at 16 and 18 years of age respectively.

"Sixteen years is the right age," MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi, the youngest ever world champion at 17, told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"When I won the title I had already done two years on real bikes in the Italian and European championships. I was young, but I was experienced.

"You can't push these youngsters like that: they win their parish church championship and then come straight to the world championship. Unfortunately I visit the Clinica Mobile and I see these kids there, maybe with some broken bones.

"We started talking about this last year in the Safety Commission with Valentino Rossi. Other riders, like Hayden and Pedrosa, agreed too.

"I don't think anyone can be against something like this, because if they start too young they risk getting burnt. And after all, at 16 years of age, they have a lot of time ahead of them."

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Gresini urges MotoGP to cut costs

Leading team boss Fausto Gresini has urged the MotoGP authorities to emulate the drastic cost-cutting measures being taken in Formula One.

Although MotoGP has not yet suffered any of the team losses that have rocked F1 and the World Rally Championship amid the global economic downturn - and indeed is set to see its regular field rise from 18 to 19 bikes in 2009 - Gresini believes the series should take action now to avoid problems in the future.

"Surely we can't carry on the way it's been up to now," he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

"If F1 felt the need to find some limitations, then we must do that too. We can't wait until the crisis becomes too bad before thinking of some measures, also because little can be done for 2009. We must talk and try to think which way to go."

The satellite Honda team boss said he already had ideas for how costs could be brought down.

"The objective should be reducing costs by 30 per cent," said Gresini.

"With the measures I have in mind we could already spend 20 per cent less. First of all we should get rid of one of the four bikes we have in the garage: there would be just one spare bike for the two riders to be used after a failure or a crash. This means less weight to transport around the world and a couple less technicians.

"Then we should eliminate carbon brakes and move to steel ones, which are also used in road bike production. This would save 250,000 euros."

He also wants to see MotoGP adopt similar measures to F1's engine freeze and multi-race engine rules.

"We must do something similar too, by freezing the construction of new bikes for four or five years, while only allowing development of the current bikes," said Gresini. "Most of all, we must lengthen engine life: less revs, more kilometres. Let's say 17,000 revs."

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250cc: Simoncelli to start 2009 as favourite

Reigning 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli will start the new season as favourite to retain the title after the FIM released the entry list for 2009 today.

Despite speculation at the end of the 2008 season that the category could be hit by the poor financial climate, the Italian - who stays with the factory Gilera squad - heads a strong field of 22 riders.

The list also confirms 2008 title contender Alvaro Bautista at Aspar alongside the reigning 125cc world champion Mike di Meglio.

The Frenchman is not the only notable graduate from 125 category either, with Axel Pons moving up into his father Sito's (two-times 250cc world champion and former MotoGP team owner) new squad. He will be joined by 2008 race winner Hector Barbera.

Other graduates include Kenny Roberts' protege Stevie Bonsey who joins Aprilia Madrid and the 2007 125cc world champion Gabor Talmacsi who will race for a new team sponsored by the Hungarian Grand Prix venue Balaton.

There are no factory KTMs on the list following the manufacturer's withdrawal from the sport at the end of the season, but the team's former star Hiroshi Aoyama remains in the category with Scot Racing.

No Rider Team Bike 4 Hiroshi Aoyama Scot Racing Honda 7 Axel Pons Pepe World Pons Aprilia 8 Bastien Chesaux Racing Team Germany Honda 9 Toni Wirsing Racing Team Germany Honda 10 Imre Toth Team Toth Aprilia Aprilia 12 Thomas Luthi Emmi - Caffe Latte Aprilia 14 Ratthapark Wilairot Thai Honda Ptt Sag Honda 15 Roberto Locatelli Metis Gilera Gilera 16 Jules Cluzel Matteoni Racing Aprilia 17 Karel Abraham Cardion Ab Motoracing Aprilia 19 Alvaro Bautista Mapfre Aspar Aprilia 21 Hector Barbera Pepe World Pons Aprilia 25 Alex Baldolini Wtr San Marino Team Aprilia 28 Gabor Talmacsi Balaton Racing Aprilia 35 Raffaele de Rosa Scot Racing Honda 41 Aleix Espargaro Campetella Racing Aprilia 48 Shoya Tomizawa Team Cip Honda 51 Stevie Bonsey Aprilia Madrid Aprilia 52 Lukas Pesek Auto Kelly - Cp Aprilia 58 Marco Simoncelli Metis Gilera Gilera 63 Mike di Meglio Mapfre Aspar Aprilia 75 Mattia Pasini Team Toth Aprilia

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125cc: Smith's Aspar switch key '09 change

Bradley Smith's switch to the crack Aspar squad for 2009 is the key change in the 125cc field following the FIM's announcement of the 29-bike official entry list for next year.

The Briton - under pressure to deliver in 2009 with a team that won the championship in 2007 with Gabor Talmacsi and 2006 with Alvaro Bautista - is still to post his first win in the category.

But with Talmacsi and reigning champion Mike di Meglio moving up to 250s, Smith's switch from Polaris World is the most high profile of the off-season.

In a largely unchanged, but highly competitive field, Simone Corsi starts the season as one of the favourites on the Pons Aprilia but will face stiff opposition from several competitors, including his teammate Nicolas Terol.

The entry list confirms that Sergio Gadea will remain with Aspar, while Donington-winner Scott Redding stays with Blusens Aprilia.

Another race-winner from 2008, Stefan Bradl, will return for a crack at the title with Kiefer Racing.

The British-based Maxtra team, a joint venture between John Surtees and former Suzuki boss John Taylor in collaboration with Chinese bike manufacturer Haojue, has also been granted entries for Matthew Hoyle and Michael Ranseder.

No Rider Team Bike 5 Alexis Masbou Loncin Racing Loncin 7 Dominique Aegerter Ajo Interwetten Derbi 8 Lorenzo Zanetti Wwc Aprilia 11 Sandro Cortese Ajo Interwetten Derbi 12 Esteve Rabat Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 16 Cameron Beaubier Red Bull Ktm 125 Ktm 17 Stefan Bradl Kiefer Racing Aprilia 18 Nicolas Terol Jack & Jones Pons Aprilia 24 Simone Corsi Jack & Jones Pons Aprilia 27 Stefano Bianco Cbc Corse Aprilia 29 Andrea Iannone Wwc Aprilia 30 Pere Tutusaus Matteoni Racing Aprilia 32 Lorenzo Savadori Fontana Racing Aprilia 33 Sergio Gadea Bancaja Aspar Aprilia 34 Randy Krummenacher Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 38 Bradley Smith Bancaja Aspar Aprilia 44 Pol Espargaro Derbi Racing Derbi 45 Scott Redding Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 60 Julian Simon Bancaja Aspar Aprilia 66 Matthew Hoyle Maxtra Team Maxtra 71 Tomoyoshi Koyama Loncin Racing Loncin 72 Marco Ravaioli Cbc Corse Aprilia 73 Takaaki Nakagami Wwc Aprilia 81 Jasper Iwema Kiefer Racing Aprilia 88 Michael Ranseder Maxtra Team Maxtra 93 Marc Marquez Red Bull Ktm 125 Ktm 94 Jonas Folger Wwc Aprilia 99 Danny Webb Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia Tbc Tbc Derbi Racing Derbi

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The FIM has published the entry list for the 2009 MotoGP Championship, confirming a 19-rider field complete with a solitary privateer Ducati for Sete Gibernau under the new Grupo Francisco Hernando banner.

The Spaniard's return to the sport means that there will be five Italian bikes on the grid, with two factory Ducatis for former world champions Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden and two factory-assisted GP9s for Mika Kallio and Niccolo Canepa entered by the Pramac Racing team rather than Alice as they were known in 2008.

Despite speculation about Honda's continued factory participation, HRC have two bikes entered for Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso. Privateer Honda team Scot Racing will introduce the only other new name for 2009, Japanese 250cc graduate Yuki Takahashi.

As he has done previously, world champion Valentino Rossi will retain his competition number, 46, instead of carrying the No. 1 plate next year.

No Rider Team Bike 3 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Honda 4 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Honda 5 Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 7 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki Suzuki 14 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda Honda 15 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Gresini Honda 21 John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Kawasaki 24 Toni Elias San Carlo Gresini Honda 27 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Ducati 33 Marco Melandri Kawasaki Racing Kawasaki 36 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Ducati 46 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Yamaha 52 James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 59 Sete Gibernau Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati 65 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki Suzuki 69 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Ducati 72 Yuki Takahashi Scot Racing Honda 88 Niccolo Canepa Pramac Racing Ducati 99 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Yamaha

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250cc: FIM publishes Moto2 regulations

The FIM has published the regulations for the new Moto2 category that will replace 250cc from 2011.

As expected, the new 600cc class will be a four-stroke category with a lower weight limit than the MotoGP class, coming in at 135kg compared to 148kg for the 800s.

The highlights include a claiming clause whereby any competitor can 'claim' an opponent's engine after a race.

The cost of claiming another engine is €20,000, with the rule included in order to dissuade teams spending more than that figure on their motor. This rule has already proved a success when used in American racing.

Only one bike will be permitted per rider per meeting, while two engines can be used per weekend.

Exotic materials are banned, which means the use of steel brakes and that all major moving parts inside the engine are to be steel. The piston itself is to be aluminium alloy, as are the block and the head.

Refreshingly, there are to be no other electronic devices on the bike apart from an FIM supplied data logger, ECU and fuel injection system. This comes at a cost of €650. This ECU will limit revs to 16,000, 15,500 and 15,000 for four, triples and twins respectively.

Gearboxes will be six-speed, but teams will be limited to three choices of ratio per gear per season.

Interestingly, no mention of how much fuel is to be used is mentioned, but with a rev limit, this may not be as pivotally important as a fuel limit such as in MotoGP (21 litres).

Replacement Regulation for 250cc Class from 2011 (Moto2) :

Technical Regulations:

1. Engine

4-stroke engines only. Maximum 600cc.

4 cylinders maximum.

No oval pistons.

Engines must be normally aspirated. No turbo-charging, no super-charging.

Engine speed limited to maximum: 16,000 rpm. 4-cylinder engines, 15,500 rpm. 3-cylinder engines, 15,000 rpm. 2-cylinder engines.

An electronic system supplied by the Organisers will be permanently attached to monitor and control
engine speed.

Pneumatic valve operation is not permitted.

Inlet and Exhaust valves must be of conventional type (reciprocating poppet valves).

Variable valve timing or variable valve lift systems are not permitted.

Only wet-sump type engine lubrication systems are permitted.

Minimum weight of complete engine with throttle body, dry: 53 kg 4-cylinder, 50 kg 3-cylinder, 47 kg 2 cylinder

Inlet & Fuel System

Variable-length inlet tract systems are not permitted.

Only one throttle control valve per cylinder is permitted. No other moving devices are permitted in the inlet tract before the engine intake valve.

Throttle bodies will have a maximum internal diameter (must be perfectly circle except for the area of dent or groove to allow the injector to come out) at engine side out-let of: 42 mm for 4-cylinder, 48 mm for 3-cylinder, 59 mm for 2-cylinder.

Fuel injectors will be restricted to a defined type (tba, based on cost).

Fuel pressure must not exceed 5.0 bar.

No artificial cooling of intake air or fuel.

Only air or air/fuel mixture is permitted in the induction tract and combustion chamber.

No direct fuel injection into the cylinder/head/combustion chamber.

Fuel specification will be for standard unleaded fuel (commercially available EU-compliant "pump fuel").

Exhaust system

Variable length exhaust systems are not permitted.

Noise limit will be a maximum of 120 dB/A, measured in a static test.

Transmission

A maximum of 6 gearbox speeds is permitted.

A maximum of 3 alternate gear ratios for each gearbox speed, and 2 alternate ratios for the primary drive gear is permitted. Teams will be required to declare the gearbox ratios for each gear used at the beginning of the season.

Electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulic clutch actuating systems are not permitted.

Ignition, Electronics & Data-Logging

Data logger system will be supplied by the series Organizer.

Only the ECU/fuel injection control units supplied by the series Organiser are allowed to be fitted to the motorcycle. Electronic control units include the timing transponder, engine RPM control, and datalogger systems. No other electronic control or datalogging systems will be allowed on the motorcycle.

The price of ECU unit made by each engine manufacturer must be equal to or less than
JPY 75,000 (about Euro650).

Chassis

Chassis will be a prototype, the design and construction of which is free within the constraints of the FIM Grand Prix Technical Regulations. The frame, swing-arm, fuel tank, seat and cowling are forbidden to use from a non-prototype as series production road-going motorcycle.

Minimum Total Weight: 135kg for 4-cylinder, 130kg for 3-cylinder, 125kg for 2-cylinder

No carbon brake discs.

Wheels & Tyres

No carbon composite wheels.

The maximum permitted wheel rim width is: Front 4.00", Rear 6.00" or 6.25"

The only permitted wheel rim diameter is: Front 17", Rear 17".

The number of slick tyres allocated to each rider per event will be controlled.

Materials & Construction

Construction materials will be limited to exclude expensive "non-conventional" materials and manufacturing methods (a list will be issued).

The following components must be made from iron-based alloys: Valve springs, camshafts, crankshafts, connecting rods, piston pins, brake discs.

Engine crankcases and cylinder heads must be made from cast aluminium alloys.

Pistons must be made from an aluminium alloy.

General

Number of machines: the team can scrutineer only one motorcycle per rider.

Number of engines: a maximum of 2 complete engines per rider is permitted at any event. Teams will be required to register engine serial numbers at Technical Control on the day before the first practice.

Apart from the above regulations, all other construction criteria, dimensions and specifications are as per the FIM Grand Prix Regulations.

The engine (excluding exhaust, throttle bodies and ECU) used in a race is available to be purchased by another competitor in the same race for a fixed price of €20,000 (Euro). Such purchase request must be made in writing to Race Direction within the protest period, that is within 60 minutes after the official end of the race.

The transaction and delivery will be completed immediately at the end of the 60 minute protest period and will be underwritten by IRTA. Teams refusing to sell when presented with a valid request will be disqualified.

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Hopkins upbeat after surgery

John Hopkins is beginning his off-season recuperation following surgery to remove the metal plates from his left ankle and foot yesterday.

The Kawasaki rider sustained the injuries in a practice crash at Assen back in June and missed the next two races in at Sachsenring and Laguna Seca.

The surgeons also cleaned up scar tissue and cartilage damage in his left knee - sustained in the same crash at Assen - and a metal plate in his left hand, which was the result of a previous injury.

"It's unbelievable, it's great to be hardware free again after all this time," said Hopkins. "I've had several injuries in the past and have had to go through a few surgical ordeals since I was 13, but you never really get used to it.

"Now all the metal is out of my body, I'm looking forward to some rest and recuperation, and spending time with my wife Ashleigh and our two families during the Christmas holiday period.

"Doctor Ting reckons it will be four weeks before I can start training properly again, but that should give me time to be fighting fit and ready for the start of pre-season testing at the end of January."

Hopkins remained in the Fremont Surgery Centre in California overnight after the operation, but will return home to San Diego today.

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Honda F1 quit won't affect MotoGP team

Honda's decision to withdraw from Formula One will not have any effect on the Repsol Honda MotoGP team, according to Honda Europe.

The global financial crisis led to marque bosses in Japan pulling their support of the European-based F1 team, but Honda Europe spokesman Paul Ormond says the MotoGP team is not under threat.

"The decision to pull out of F1 does not affect the other forms of motorsport Honda are involved in," Ormond told autosport.com.

"We will be looking at reducing our costs, as we're sure other teams will be doing too, in MotoGP and other motorcycle activities."

The factory Honda team will run Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso next year, with pre-season testing beginning at the end of January.

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Dovizioso eager for Pedrosa rivalry

Andrea Dovizioso says he is looking forward to his rivalry with Dani Pedrosa in the factory Honda team next season.

The Italian, who joined the works outfit at the end of this year following a successful debut season in MotoGP with Team JiR Scot, admitted that he has a competitive rivalry with Pedrosa but does not want that to get in the way of the team beating their rival manufacturers.

"We've raced against each other for a long time and he's always beaten me," he told Motosprint. "He is a top rider, but he's always had a better package than mine at his disposal. Now we have the same bike and the same tyres, it will be a nice fight.

"My objective is not to be the top Honda rider: it's to win. Obviously, it's also important to be the top Honda rider because this gives you importance and power, especially when it's time to develop a bike.

"But it's better to think about Rossi and Stoner, rather than Pedrosa. I've realized you must think of the big picture because you may end up being the top Honda rider but only fourth in the championship, and that would definitely be not good."

But Dovizioso says he still has progress to make during pre-season testing before he can challenge for victories.

"I'm not yet in the ideal situation to win," he said. "Obviously, HRC and I are aiming high, but now we still have our problems to solve.

"I still need to find the right feeling and I'm not quick enough to win yet."

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Kawasaki results "must improve"

The factory Kawasaki team must deliver much improved results in MotoGP next season, according to racing director Ichiro Yoda.

The boss of the Japanese manufacturer's racing team says the pressure is mounting on them and expects that he will be sacked if there isn't a dramatic upturn in their form in 2009.

"It's clear that we'll have to do a lot better next year," he told Motosprint. "There is great pressure on us, we have been told we must get results. The message comes from the boss at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tamba.

"The pressure on me is enormous and perhaps my next chance will be the last for my work. If we don't get the result, I will probably lose my position."

Kawasaki finished fifth and bottom of the manufacturer standings this season, 93 points behind fourth-placed Suzuki, and John Hopkins and Anthony West finished 16th and 18th respectively in the riders' standings.

The team have drafted in Ducati exile Marco Melandri to partner Hopkins next season and they tested away from most of their rivals at Phillip Island last week, though both riders were pleased with the progress made so far.

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Gibernau 'not back to win races'

Sete Gibernau admits he is not back in MotoGP to try and win races, but rather to enjoy himself on the bike.

The 35-year-old Spaniard, runner-up to Valentino Rossi in 2003 and 2004, is returning to racing after having retired from the sport at the end of the 2006 season.

Gibernau will ride a Ducati for the new Onde 2000 team, and he confesses his goal is not to be fighting on top.

"I'm not back to win, I'm back to enjoy riding, knowing full well that you can't compare the Sete from 2006 to the one of today," Gibernau told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I lack the confidence and many small things that make you go quick. I know that in order to be close to my 2006 levels, I need to work a lot more."

The Catalan, a veteran of 155 races, says he will stay in MotoGP as long as it's fun.

"As long as I enjoy myself. I've signed a contract for one year, we'll see after that," he added.

Gibernau acknowledges the bikes have changed a lot in the two year he has been absent from the sport.

"A lot: the Ducati is now a very competitive bike with a lot of potential," he said. "Cornering speed is extremely quick and compared to 2006 there's a lot more electronics.

"You must trust it almost with your eyes closed, and I still can't do it. I think the rider should do certain things, while instead you must let the bike do it."

The Spanish rider, winner of nine races, suggested he might try to rebuild his relationship with Rossi, after falling out with the Italian in the final years of their battles.

"With Vale I enjoyed myself both on and off the track. Then life changes, but the experience is still positive. I did some fantastic races against a guy considered perhaps the strongest rider of all times. That for me is cause of pride.

"The relationship on a personal level was excellent for a while, then it changed, but I have big respect for Valentino. Perhaps now a good relationship can be rebuild again."

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