Rossi: Prince pushing me to ride next year, I think it will be very difficult

With the summer break and subsequent decision on Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP future looming, the Italian is unlikely to ride for his own team alongside brother Luca Marini. 

Earlier today it was confirmed that Valentino Rossi and Ducati have come together regarding the supplier of his Aramco VR46 MotoGP team bikes for 2022. 

Taking one of the seats is brother and 2021 rookie Luca Marini, and while HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud, has tried hard to persuade the nine-time champion to ride in his own team, it’s very unlikely according to Rossi. 

"I still not decide. I will think more deeply in this break. I also have to speak with Yamaha and the team. We wanna try for better performance and better result for sure," said Rossi. 

"The start of the season until this moment was not fantastic under this point of view. I think it will be very difficult also that I race next year. 

"Always the Prince push on me for race next year with my team and Ducati. But at the moment I think it will be very difficult." 

When asked further about why the Prince wants him to ride during the Dutch TT pre-event press conference, Rossi added: "About the Prince, we spoke sometimes and he always push me for ride next year. 

"I don’t expect that he say (that) in the press release sincerely, but I know that he want to try this with me and my brother. 

"But I use the same idea and the same word for the chance to not only race with Ducati, but in general to race next year with my team; I think it will be very, very difficult."

The decision of which manufacturer would be the supplier started at four - Ducati, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Aprilia, however, it quickly became apparent that Ducati and Yamaha were the two teams in contention. 

But with Rossi’s current team Petronas Yamaha committed to staying in MotoGP and set to remain with Yamaha, moving forward with Ducati was ‘better for everybody’. 

Rossi said: "My relationship with Yamaha is very good. I think that we make the best day of my career together, and also I think it’s very good for us to make a team with Yamaha; next year I mean. 

"But we decide together, also because I race for Petronas, and Petronas want to continue with Yamaha. 

"So in the end we stay together around the table and we decide like this because it’s better for everybody. 

"Anyway, we are very, very happy to race with Ducati because the bike is very fast, and also because they always support our riders academy and they are interested in the project."