Early Contract Extension For Rossi Unlikely: Yamaha

The contract extension talks with multiple world champion Valentino Rossi is not expected to take place anytime soon says Yamaha’s team boss Lin Jarvis. He added that it might take a few races into the season next year for any initial conversations.

The Italian’s existing contract goes expiring at the end of 2018, which means that the outcome of this year’s campaign will play a key role in how things pan out on the agreement. Current deal was penned on the eve of 2016 and announced during the race weekend in Qatar.

It triggered several moves as well in the market for top rides. Jarvis doesn’t anticipate such an early start as he feels Rossi will want to spend the first few races of weighing up whether he wants to remain in the sport he loves the most.

It is important noting that Rossi has previously made clear that he is open to signing a new contract for 2019 should he remain competitive, even though a brand new two year deal mean he would be racing into his forties.