Rossi, Vinales not giving up on 2019 despite 2020 bike test
Yamaha MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales say they are not prepared to write off the rest of the 2019 season, despite plans to test a 2020 prototype at Brno on Monday.
The Iwata brand is expected to run an early version of its 2020 engine during the traditional post-race test at the Czech venue as it seeks to get ahead on preparations for next season.
It comes at a point in the season where both Rossi and Vinales are no longer in realistic title contention, having both fallen more than 100 points behind championship leader Marc Marquez.
However, Rossi - who has scored just eight points in the last four races - insists that it is too soon to give up on the 2019 campaign, an opinion shared by his teammate Vinales.
"We can't wait for 2020," said Rossi. "We have to concentrate on 2019, because there are still 10 races to go, which is a lot.
"We come from four very difficult races, in which we struggled a lot, especially because we expected to be competitive because last year we were in this part of the championship.
"We need to try and work better, but the summer break helped recharge the batteries and allow us to do better in the second part of the season.
"We want to do better next year, but first we need to think about doing well in the last races [of 2019]."
Vinales, who scored Yamaha's only victory of the season so far at Assen in June, added: "2020 will begin when the chequered flag falls at Valencia.
"I want to be very focused on this year, on improving my riding style, my mentality and especially on improving my working method.
"There are some circuits that are very good for us, such as Silverstone or Australia [Phillip Island], also I can be fast at Aragon.
"I don't think about how many races I can win, only about giving the maximum in each of them."
Rossi also moved to dismiss recent rumours in the Italian media that the seven-time premier class champion was considering an early retirement after a difficult first part of the season.
"It was funny to see all the things that were said, but they are unfounded," Rossi said. "I will race this year and also next year, but this was never in doubt.
"But even those that wrote this also knew that, in my opinion."
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
Share Or Save This Story
Super Formula Suzuka: Nirei Fukuzumi beats Ayumu Iwasa for first win for Rookie Racing
Super Formula Suzuka: Sacha Fenestraz wins hectic opening race
The names to watch out for in Super Formula despite Rovanpera’s late dropout
Valentino Rossi calls on Ducati to do more for Francesco Bagnaia in MotoGP title fight
Valentino Rossi up there with Jordan and Messi among the greatest ever - Franco Morbidelli
BMW insists “WEC remains a great championship, even without Valentino Rossi”
MotoGP considering reducing riders to one bike from 2027
Pramac Yamaha set to sign Izan Guevara in MotoGP for 2027
Carmelo Ezpeleta confident MotoGP will "reach an agreement" with manufacturers
DTM Zandvoort Race 2: BMW victory for Kelvin van der Linde, Dörr on podium
Why a wet Canadian GP could be "the perfect storm" for F1
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto set for tough Canadian GP start ‘unless everyone else f**** it up’
Ollie Bearman: Haas "chasing our tail all weekend" with updates and Montreal bumps
Why Ducati has no doubts about Marc Marquez’s future
Why the Catalan GP chaos may finally force MotoGP riders to unite
What we learned from MotoGP's wretched Catalan GP
As Marquez sinks and Martin surges, Bezzecchi knows exactly who to beat for the MotoGP title
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments