MotoGP Jerez - Rossi denies Suzuka Eight-Hours return

Factory Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has denied he is to participate in this year's Suzuka Eight-Hours in a team alongside Britain's Cal Crutchlow.

Factory Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has denied he is to participate in this year's Suzuka Eight-Hours in a team alongside Britain's Cal Crutchlow.

After the news that 1993 world champion Kevin Schwantz is to make a return to the prestigious endurance race, Rossi admitted he had spoken to Yamaha stablemate Crutchlow about the possibility but said that time was the limiting factor.

"I think not. The schedule for the world championship is very difficult. It's always one weekend on, one weekend off, we never have a longer break apart from when is the Eight-Hours. I like a lot to do the Eight-Hours with the Yamaha and to do it together with Cal would be a great feeling but to make it is very heavy," said Rossi, speaking at Jerez.

"To do the test, you have to go in Japan and after the race you have a problem with your body for two or three months because it is like doing four grand prix in a row, pow, pow, pow, pow. I have the idea and I spoke with Cal but maybe when we are more old. Maybe me, Cal and Jorge!"

By David Miller

Image by Bonnie Lane