MotoGP reacts to Rossi's new Yamaha contract

Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP rivals have given their reaction to his new two-year deal to stay with Yamaha until at least the end of the 2020 season.

When quizzed for their response to Rossi’s new contract to keep him in MotoGP for the next three seasons, with his current deal covering the 2018 campaign, both Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso described it as impressive as it will see Rossi race at the top level of motorsport at the age of 41.

MotoGP reacts to Rossi's new Yamaha contract

Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP rivals have given their reaction to his new two-year deal to stay with Yamaha until at least the end of the 2020 season.

When quizzed for their response to Rossi’s new contract to keep him in MotoGP for the next three seasons, with his current deal covering the 2018 campaign, both Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso described it as impressive as it will see Rossi race at the top level of motorsport at the age of 41.

“It is impressive the way he finds the motivation as he knows MotoGP is now really demanding and he knows he needs to be at the top level,” Marquez said. “It is impressive because it is not plus two years it is three years as we have the current season in front.

“Congratulations to him and I am happy to have him here for two more years because you are racing against a legend of MotoGP so we will try to learn more things about him.

“Like Marc said it is impressive but I am not surprised about that because if you know a little bit about Vale it is not surprising,” Dovizioso echoed. “I already knew this before he said it today because he is fast and he will never stop as long as he is fast like this. So you never know when he will stop.”

Tech3 Yamaha rider Johann Zarco went so far as to call Rossi’s new deal a “dream come true” to allow younger riders to get the opportunity race against the nine-time world champion in the premier class.

“I think we must say thank you to him for the newcomers and new guys like me it makes our dreams come true because it is fantastic,” Zarco said. “If he had to stop before we can go to MotoGP it wouldn’t mean the dream to follow Valentino but we have this opportunity so thank you to him for continuing.”

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