Breaking news
MotoGP
Rossi: 2019 MotoGP season could be tightest ever
Valentino Rossi reckons this year's MotoGP season could be the closest in the championship's history, with "seven or eight" possible title contenders on "three or four" different types of bike.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Mar 7, 2019, 7:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Rossi pinpointed his Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales, Ducati factory pair Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci, Honda duo Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo as well as Suzuki's Alex Rins as the men likely to contest this year's crown alongside himself.
The 40-year-old Italian said having so many possible title contenders and race winners increases the chances of top riders having to scrap for lower positions in certain races.
"On paper, I don't think there's ever been such an even championship," said Rossi, "with seven or eight riders, and also three or four different bikes, that can fight for the title.
"The factory riders are all really strong. The two works Ducati riders are going strongly, the two from Honda are a little bit behind, but surely they will arrive.
"The two Yamahas are going quite well, and also Suzuki, especially with Rins. It seems to me the factory bikes are all quite strong.
"Then we must not forget [Fabio] Quartararo, [Francesco] Bagnaia, [Cal] Crutchlow and [Franco] Morbidelli, who in the tests have been strong. Already there are 10 of us!
"Maybe in one race you are on the podium and in another you make a mistake and you are fighting for seventh place. It's difficult."
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
Dovizioso concurred with Rossi's assessment, describing the new campaign as the most "uncertain" of his tenure in the premier class.
"I have seen many very competitive riders," commented the Ducati rider. "All the top four bikes are quite strong, and close, with different characteristics.
"We could see a lot of riders fighting for wins, a much more competitive season than recent ones. This is the first season in which we start with so much uncertainty, at least since I've been in MotoGP.
"In the past in Qatar we've seen very different results in the race compared with the tests. But, more than just Qatar, there is uncertainty for all the season.
"At the moment we need to focus day by day, then we will see."
Marquez also gave his opinion on who he views as his main rivals for the Qatar weekend.
"I think this weekend the two Ducatis will fight for victory, the two Yamahas, but also Rins and Lorenzo," commented the reigning champion.
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont
Press conference
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Crutchlow fears Honda has lost its main "weapon"
Next article Bradl to make Honda wildcard outing at Jerez
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi in new autobiography: '2015 still hurts, Marc Marquez wanted me to lose'
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
3 d
Valentino Rossi in new autobiography: '2015 still hurts, Marc Marquez wanted me to lose'
The closest finish in MotoGP history: Toni Elias over Valentino Rossi 20 years ago
MotoGP
MotoGP
Portuguese GP
26 d
The closest finish in MotoGP history: Toni Elias over Valentino Rossi 20 years ago
Marc Marquez to read Valentino Rossi’s new book “when I retire” from MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP
San Marino GP
2 mo
Marc Marquez to read Valentino Rossi’s new book “when I retire” from MotoGP
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
15 min
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
1 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 5 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe