THE DOCTOR TO RIDE FOR SRT
Rossi to swap colours with Quartararo, who will race for Monster Energy Yamaha
MOTOGP great Valentino Rossi will race for Pet ron as Yamaha SRT next season after signing a one-year contract. Rossi, a seven-time premier class world champion, will swap seats with French rider Fabio Quartararo, who is taking his place at the factory Yamaha team (Monster Energy Yamaha) alongside Spaniard Maverick Vinales.
The 41-year-old’s technical knowledge and huge following will help strengthen SRT both on and off the track.
Signing the Doctor is no doubt a coup for a young SRT team who are only in their second season in MotoGP.
SRT team principal Datuk Razlan Razali is confident that Rossi will be an asset to the team.
Rossi will be teaming up with former protege Franco Morbidelli in an all-Italian rider line up at SRT next season.
“It is an absolute honour to welcome Rossi – an iconic rider and legend into the team next year,” said Razlan.
“His experience will be a great asset to the team as we move into our third season in MotoGP.
“We believe that the combination of Rossi and Morbidelli will be a formidable force next year.”
Team director Johan Stigefelt said helping Rossi settle in as quickly as possible will be a priority.
“To be able to sign a rider like Rossi for what will be only our third year in the MotoGP championship, is amazing,” said Stigefelt.
“We want to make sure that he feels comfortable in our team, which we trust in and believe in so much.
“Our target is to get even better as a team, help Rossi deliver the best results possible and make 2021 a memorable year.”
Meanwhile, Morbidelli took pole position for the Catalonia MotoGP yesterday as three Yamaha bikes claimed the entire front row for this weekend’s race at the Montmelo circuit.
Morbidelli’s time of 1min 38.798sec came on his final qualifying lap and handed the Italian his first- ever MotoGP pole, 0.210sec ahead of fellow YahamaSRT rider Quartararo.
“Beating Fabio on a qualifying lap is good because it means that you are very fast,” said Morbidelli, who sits fifth in the championship standings.
Rossi, who will drop down to Yahama-SRT from the factory team next season following the announcement of his one-year contract extension yesterday, will take third place on the grid.
It will be the first time in over a year that Rossi, 41, will start a Grand Prix from the front row.
“It’s a really great result to be in the front row, especially today which is special because I signed a contract for next year,” said Rossi.
It was a disastrous day for current championship leader Andrea Dovizioso, who is only one point ahead of Quartararo and Maverick Vinales but will start today’s race 17th on the grid.
Vinales, another Yamaha rider, is in the second row alongside Ducati-Avintia’a Johann Zarco and Jack Miller from Ducati-Pramac after finishing qualifying fifth fastest.