Rossi move right for MotoGP

Former GP racer Randy Mamola has backed Valentino Rossi’s move from Honda to Yamaha for the 2004 season but has dismissed the Italian’s title chances.

Rossi has ended four years with Honda, during which time he landed three of his five world titles, and today it was announced he is joining Yamaha.

The London-based Italian will begin his two-year stay at Yamaha when his current deal with Honda runs out on January 1.

Rossi’s decision to quit the all-conquering Honda, which filled the top three places in the standings in the MotoGP in the season which finished when he won in Valencia just over a week ago, has been backed by Mamola who raced for Yamaha in the 1980s.

Mamola – a four-time world championship runner-up and 13 times a GP winner who raced for Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda – said: “I have to say that this is fantastic news for MotoGP – the best thing that could have happened to our sport.”

Rossi took Honda’s RC211V to new heights of domination this season and was followed home in the championship by Spaniard Sete Gibernau and Italian Max Biaggi, also both on Hondas.

Mamola believes Rossi’s move to Yamaha will open up the championship for 2004.

“Now the championship is open again, and there is a big chance there for several riders who have been knocking on the door for years,” Mamola told www.motograndprix.com.

Mamola, who commentates on GPs for Eurosport, added: “Specifically, this is the moment Max Biaggi has surely been desperate for.

“With Rossi on the Yamaha and him on the Honda, the situation is the reverse of two years ago – and Max can have no complaints.

“However, if Biaggi wants to win the title he needs to establish himself as Honda’s number one guy this winter.”

Mamola has backed fellow American Nicky Hayden, rookie of the year in MotoGP, to shine next season.

“If Nicky keeps progressing as he did in the second half of the season he has a real chance,” said Mamola.

But he has dismissed the chances of Rossi, because he believes Yamaha have too much ground to make up on Honda.

“I’m afraid that unless Yamaha come up with something drastic for Rossi to test this winter there is frankly no way he or any other rider can win the championship for them,” said Mamola.

“Personally, I think the maximum Rossi can do with that bike as it is now is make podium finishes, so the pressure is on Yamaha to provide him with something competitive.”

The signing of Rossi for the next two years has been welcomed by Yamaha’s racing chief.

“We are all extremely happy that Valentino will be joining Yamaha in 2004,” said Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing.

“In our discussions with him it is clear he relishes the challenge of achieving our goal in MotoGP as much as we do. He is an incredible talent and will make a huge difference.

“Obviously there is a lot of hard work ahead of us. But we are confident we can give Valentino the means to achieve more world championships – and we look forward to the challenge ahead.

“This is a very important step in our plan to re-establish Yamaha as a leading force in grand prix racing.”

Rossi will make his Yamaha debut when the season gets under way at Welkom in South Africa on April 18.