Yamaha Movistar rider Valentino Rossi confirmed that he will have to a new surgical operation at the end of the 2018 season due to his tibia-fibula injury in late August.
The Italian rider has broken his right leg in training crash, he was riding enduro racing when he fell heavily and broke his leg. He then was transported directly to the hospital in Urbino, however he had less than three weeks to ride on a bike and participated on September 24, at Aragon Grand Prix.
“I’m always in pain. I also had to change training because I cannot run. But on the bike everything is fine. The problem is that it happened towards the end of the season. The inserted metal pin must remain in place for at least one year.” Rossi said.
“It was in September, so this year I will probably go ahead and do the appropriate kidnapping at the end of the season. But that’s not a big problem, because you don’t feel anything. You know that the brooch is there, but that makes no difference.” Rossi added.
Rossi will need to improve his races style with a right bike this season. The 2017 M1’s bike biggest weakness has been a lack of rear traction, which has left Rossi and his team-mate Maverick Vinlaes uncompetitive on stop-start track layouts just like Jerez and Barcelona.
Valentino Rossi and his team-mate Maverick Vinales. (Source:www.roadracingworld.com)
When asked about his new deal with Yamaha, the 38-year-old rider told that he will wait before making to a new Yamaha MotoGP contract. His current contract expires at the end of this season.
“Usually we speak always about two-year contracts, but it can be also one. Yamaha is open. I want to wait to re-sign, especially for the test and maybe the first three races of the season.” Rossi said.
“We are quite ready and I think we don’t have to discuss a lot the contract, so we are positive, optimistic. We are not in a rush and I think that we will say something after the test days.
“The point is that I have to decide if I am still there, I have enough motivation to give 100%, to keep concentrating and train every day. This is the decision that I have to make if I want to continue or not.” Rossi added.
