Rossi “quite worried” about Vinales’ potential

Valentino Rossi has admitted he is “quite worried” by the huge potential of his future Yamaha MotoGP teammate Maverick Vinales.

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing

It was finally confirmed on Thursday that the Spaniard will depart his current Suzuki team at the end of the season to replace Ducati-bound Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha alongside Rossi.

Vinales took his first premier class podium finish last time out at Le Mans, and is widely regarded in the paddock as the sport’s next star in the making.

And Rossi, who is 16 years the senior of Vinales, confessed that the future potential of the rider he will be sharing the Yamaha garage with in 2017 and 2018 has him concerned.

“On the one hand, I am quite worried because he is another very strong teammate,” Rossi said in an interview with Sky Italia.

“He’s 21, he has a big margin to improve and he’s already shown himself to be one of the strongest.

“On the other hand I’m content, because we will remain a very strong team.

"I’m older with more experience, he is younger and has to learn, but we are both very strong, so Yamaha has done a good job.

“I feel a bit sorry for Suzuki and for [team boss Davide] Brivio, because Vinales is a truly great rider, but for Yamaha it’s very positive.”

Pedrosa would have been tougher

Before Vinales chose to take up Yamaha’s offer, Honda rider Dani Pedrosa – who has now signed a new two-year deal to stay at his current team – had been linked with being Rossi’s teammate in 2017.

Asked if facing Pedrosa as a teammate would have been an even tougher challenge than Vinales, Rossi said: “In my opinion, yes.

"Pedrosa is also very, very strong. Maybe at the moment he is stronger. But Pedrosa has already shown his potential, while Vinales hasn’t shown his yet.”