Yamaha boss ecstatic at Valentino Rossi future pledge

Yamaha boss Masao Furusawa has spoken of his delight at Valentino Rossi’s recent pledge to continue racing until the end of 2013 at least.

When the 30-year-old notched his 100th Grand Prix victory in Assen last month, the eight-times world champion said he felt motivated and fast enough to continue racing for another three or four years.

That vow has been music to the ears of Yamaha management, who have seen Rossi win three world titles on board the 990cc and 800cc four-stroke YZR-M1.

Furusawa, who wants Rossi to remain as a Yamaha ambassador when the Italian does decide to quit, told MCN: “I’m happy, because I think that Valentino is a strong legend of Yamaha, so hopefully I don’t’ need to ask him if he wants to stay in Yamaha. Right now he’s pretty much happy.”

“I want to keep him as a legend of Yamaha, even when he will retire. But the one thing I would like to ask him is, please stop with Yamaha in MotoGP. He can go to Formula One or rally, whatever he likes, but when racing in MotoGP I’d ask him to stop with Yamaha.”

Rossi is currently on course for a ninth world title in 2009 as he heads to the German GP next weekend with a nine-point lead over Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.