MotoGP Gossip: Rossi: I’m not the greatest but one of the best

- Valentino Rossi doubts if he is the greatest ever rider in MotoGP but accepts the tag of being “one of the best” riders in the sport’s long history when speaking to former footballer Christian Vieri on an Instagram live video. (AS.com)

- Carmelo Ezpeleta says his most optimistic scenario is restarting the 2020 MotoGP season in August at Brno. The Dorna chief has laid out three options he sees as the most likely situations; starting the season in July if the coronavirus situation improves drastically, beginning in August with a 10-12 round season or the “worst case” scenario of racing multiple events at two or three circuits without spectators later in the year. (Onda Cero via Marca)

- Dani Pedrosa says he would only consider a return to racing in 2021, albeit as a KTM wildcard rider, if it was beneficial to the brand’s MotoGP efforts. The KTM test rider has previously turned down wildcard opportunities since he retired from racing at the end of 2018. (DAZN via Marca)

- Lucio Cecchinello admits without support from both Honda and MotoGP organisers Dorna he feared his team would have folded due to the suspension of the 2020 season. Earlier this month, Dorna announced advance payments to all Independent MotoGP teams for April, May and June while LCR also gained support from manufacturer partner Honda. (La Gazzetta Dello Sport)

- Maverick Vinales says he would be sorry to see Valentino Rossi leave Yamaha if he chose to retire at the end of this year. The Spaniard, who has been his team-mate at the factory Yamaha squad since 2017, says Rossi taught him to “smile in difficult times” which he feels became a key lesson. (Sky Sport Italia via GPOne.com)