MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi admitted ahead of the British Grand Prix this weekend that it would be a “dream” to ride for Ducati, but he also had Formula One ambitions.
MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi admitted ahead of the British Grand Prix this weekend that it would be a “dream” to ride for Ducati, but he also had Formula One ambitions.
The Honda rider’s contract expires this year and Rossi has made it clear he likes the Ducatis. “Of course, it is a dream to ride with Ducati. All Italians want to ride for Ducati. And the bike is fast.
“But my first target is to stay with Honda. We’re speaking with Honda. They want a two-year contract. I want to sign for one year because it suits me better to make a choice every year. But Honda don’t want that. That’s the biggest problem.”
The Italian said he would like to try Formula One too. “F1 is still a dream. Maybe it’s possible – I don’t know what will happen in the future. I will stay in MotoGP for another two or three years. I’m quite young so maybe I have enough time. I don’t know if it’s possible, but maybe,” he said.
But Rossi said for now he was focused on the British GP this weekend and his attempt to complete a hat-trick at Donington Park. He has won the past two races at the British circuit.
“I like Donington very, very much. I have won 125 and 250cc Grands Prix there and had one of the best races of my career in 2001 to win the 500cc. So I have very good memories of the track,” Rossi told .
“Donington is a little bit like my home Grand Prix because I live in London. The way the fans react to me gives me an incredible feeling. It is very emotional to go round the track and see all the fans.
“Donington is very good for my style. You need to have good lines there, and you need to be very precise through the high-speed corners. If Donington didn’t have those slow turns it would be the best track in the world, for sure, better than Assen, better than Catalunya,” Rossi said.