UPDATE: Fiat-Yamaha has confirmed that Rossi will test at Brno on Monday, with a press conference following the day’s testing sessions.
TwoWheelsBlog has gotten word that Rossi will be testing yet again, this time on James Toseland’s YZF-R1 at Brno tomorrow (Monday), as the Italian continues to gauge his progress to physical recovery. Keen to get back to racing,and save MotoGP from its plummeting ratings since his departure, Rossi has called for a press conference immediately following that day’s testing session. At the press conference Rossi is expected to announce his thoughts on racing next weekend at the German GP. A&R also expects Rossi to make the biggest announcement in MotoGP history on Monday as well.
According to TwoWheelsBlog, Rossi will be test at Brno between 2PM and 5PM local time (5AM-8AM PST), and we expect Rossi will likely only take about 20-30 laps around the track (race distance). Whereas Rossi rode one of Cal Crutchlow’s R1’s at Misano, the Italian will use one of Jame’s Tosesland WSBK spec R1’s while at Brno. Instead of Bridgestone tires, Rossi will use Pirelli’s new Evo tires, which will make comparing his times to WSBK riders more straightforward.
After the testing has concluded, Rossi will make an immediate press announcement, which is somewhat uncommon after testing. This is because even if the test goes well at the Czech track, Rossi isn’t expected to make a definitive decision about racing until taking a seat on the M1, which won’t happen until Germany. Thus both Rossi and Yoshikawa will have to gear up for for the German GP, and a decision to race Sunday will likely come at the last minute.
Although Rossi may hint to his thoughts on returning to MotoGP on Sunday, A&R expects Rossi to instead/also announce his signing of a two-year contract with Ducati, likely for a contract price of €15 million. A subject of speculation for years, 2011 seems to be the year the nine-time Italian Champion finally joins forces with the biggest motorcycle name in Italy. Rossi will almost certainly be joined by Jeremy Burgess and his crew for the move to Ducati, who will then hopefully develop the Ducati Desmosedici GP11 into one of the top bikes on the grid…just as Rossi and Burgess did with the Yamaha M1…and with the Honda RC211V.
Stay tuned tomorrow race fans.
Source: TwoWheelsBlog & MotoMatters
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