Valentino Rossi undecided on Japan participation

Valentino Rossi has said he will wait to hear the results of an independent investigation before making his final decision on whether he will race in the Japanese Grand Prix on October 2.

Rossi has publicly stated his reluctance to race at the Twin Ring Motegi because of concerns about the levels of leaked radiation that followed damage to the Fukushima nuclear plant in the Japanese earthquake back in March.

But he has not gone as far as MotoGP rivals Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo in officially clarifying his position.

Aussie Stoner dropped a bombshell during last weekend’s German MotoGP when he made it clear that he won’t go to Japan, even if the area surrounding the Twin Ring Motegi is declared safe.

Rossi is perhaps in a less sensitive and delicate situation than Stoner and Lorenzo, who are both employed by Japanese factories.

But if Rossi decided he wasn’t willing to travel to Japan, he would still be in breach of his Ducati contract.

Rossi instead said he would wait to digest the findings of a Dorna commissioned independent investigation into radiation levels in the region around the Twin Ring Motegi.

Dorna is anticipating receiving the initial findings of Italian university experts during this weekend’s US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca and the nine-times world champion said: “I know the situation and I am very happy that Stoner and Lorenzo are so decisive. For me it is a better idea to try and not go. I don’t know what happens and we have to see what they say about Japan and if it is safe or not. I don’t want to take a clear position now like Stoner and Lorenzo. I want to wait.”