Rossi admits he plans to stay until 2018

Valentino Rossi has dropped a bombshell in an exclusive interview today with Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, admitting that he plans on remaining in MotoGP until he turns 39 in 2018.

Admitting in recent months that he’s holding off to repeat his 2015 success in 2016 before deciding if he wants to renew his two-year deal (most likely with Yamaha), the nine-time champion told La Gazzetta that he’s now swaying towards staying.

“I will take five or six races to decide, but I am pretty convinced I can continue for a couple of years and then maybe Yamaha says something, because I get white hair! But at 39 years old I will be able to run a dozen car races still, make the most fascinating races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans or the Dakar. Although there you have to get up too early!”

The news will come as a relief to both Yamaha and MotoGP bosses – but after the impressive pace shown by Rossi in both 2015 and in pre-season testing so far, comes as not too much of a surprise.