Valentino Rossi is certainly 39 years old. But in Malaysia as in Valencia, we saw that the weight of the accomplished seasons did not weigh on his talent and his determination. Questions about what happens afterward are coming to him more and more. But the Doctor focuses on the present and on a Yamaha that will have to be made formidable against the Ducati of Dovizioso and the Honda of Marquez. And even against the other Yamaha of teammate Viñales! For what ? Because the two-year lease, signed with the Iwata firm, will have to be marked by a tenth title...
These ten crowns are the Holy Grail of living legend. Constant motivation and a conviction which was strengthened at the end of a complicated 2018 campaign. In an interview with “La Repubblica”, he comments: “ in the last two races I fought to be first. However, with Yamaha we suffered all year. Progress came at the very end. But we need more if we want to become competitive again "
Valentino Rossi concludes: I deserve this 3rd place in the championship because I always fought, even if the Yamaha wasn't good. The pole and podium at Mugello remain the best memories of the year. I was so sorry to crash at Sepang because I really thought I could do it. Now let's start again. I have 2 years of contract left and I want to win this 10th title "
If he achieved these ends, Valentino Rossi would become the oldest world champion in the premier category, breaking the record of Leslie Graham who, in 1949, won the world championship at 37 and 341 days. The absolute record established by Hermann Paul Muller in 1955, who won the world title in 250 at 45 years and 331 days, is, for his part, inaccessible.
