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MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi said he could keep racing for two or three years yet, as the Italian completed two days of testing for the upcoming season on a new, improved Yamaha.
Rossi, who set the fastest times over two days of testing on the Malaysian circuit of Sepang, has won nine world titles over the different categories and racked up 103 career victories.
Ahead of his 31st birth day on February 16, the racer known to fans as ‘The Doctor’ hinted that he would remain in the top level of the sport — if only to better the race victory record of legendary compatriot Giacomo Agostini.
Agostini, who raced from 1964-1977, has 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships titles. Sixty eight of his wins and eight of his world titles came in the 500cc class, the rest in the 350cc class.
“I think if things go well physically and my motivation remains I will look to do another three seasons in Moto GP,” Rossi, who in the past has prompted speculation of a move into Formula One, said speaking from Sepang.
“I’m Valentino Rossi! I’ve nine world titles, and 103 victories. If it turns out I’m no longer one of the big threats at this level then I’ll know it’s time to stay at home and start looking after the garden.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about Agostini’s record. It’s a dream of mine.”
After finishing top of the pile Thursday and Friday, Rossi had only good things to say about his team’s efforts to improve the stability on his Yamaha.
“They’ve done incredible work improving the chassis,” said Rossi.
But despite being expected to battle all season long with the three other members of the ‘big four’ — Australian Casey Stoner and Spanish duo Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo — Rossi said there could be a few surprises.
He included 2009 world superbike champion Ben Spies of the United States, Italian Marco Simoncelli, who moves up from 250cc, and GP racer Andrea Dovizioso, among those he believes could perform well.
“We’re a little bit faster than the rest (of the teams) at the moment but it’s early in the season. There’s a lot of new drivers and they’re coming in ambitious,” added Rossi.
“The ones to look out for will be Ben Spies, but also Marco Simoncelli. Dovizioso had a very compromised season last year and he will be looking to show his full potential.”
Of Rossi’s nine world championship titles, six have come in the GP category, one in 500cc and one each in 250cc and 125cc.
The 18-race 2010 season gets underway at the Grand Prix of Qatar on April 11.
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