Reigning six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi insists that his enthusiasm is as high as ever heading into the 2009 season, his 14th year in grand prix racing and tenth in the premier-class.
“My excitement at the first race is the same as 1996; when this feeling changes then it is time to stay at home,” said the Fiat Yamaha rider, ahead of this weekend’s Qatar season-opener.
“I think we lost a lot of the show when we made the switch from 990c to 800 bikes,” he said. “The type of races are different now… This season we have the same tyres and maybe the situation in the races will be more clear and I hope more exciting for everybody.”
Ahead of Sunday’s race at Losail, which will be at night and run under floodlights, Rossi admitted: “I had motivation last year. Now I need to find new motivation. Every year I have to work harder.”
“I will decide on my future in 2010 and if it is possible to continue or better to stop.”
The season opener will see current champ Valentino Rossi and 2007 champion Casey Stoner renew their hostile rivalry. After reclaiming the title last year, Rossi is as hungry as ever, but despite blowing everyone away in official one-lap pre-season tests, Stoner is still to complete a full race run in testing as he recovers from late-2008 wrist surgery.
Snapping at Rossi and Stoner’s heels will be 2008 rookie of the year Jorge Lorenzo and 2008 third place finisher Dani Pedrosa. With the return of perennial Rossi-rival Sete Gibernau to the premier class and 2006 champion Nicky Hayden’s switch to Ducati, 2009 might throw in a few other surprises.
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