Rossi denies $17m offer to stay at Ducati

Valentino Rossi has rubbished rumours he has been offered $17m to stay with Ducati next season, saying they are 'completely untrue' and clarifying that by adding he has been offered less money to remain with the Bologna team.

Valentino Rossi has rubbished rumours he has been offered $17m to stay with Ducati next season, saying they are 'completely untrue' and clarifying that by adding he has been offered less money to remain with the Bologna team.

The Doctor has three offers on the table for next year but says staying with Ducati is a big risk compared to switching back to Yamaha while the third option doesn't come with a factory bike to ride, which he believes is very important.

"This is important to say is completely not true. It is less pay than the offer of these last two years and I think is also right as the situation of all the world is difficult and also I arrive with two bad season with less results so it is normal they take less money," said Rossi, speaking at Laguna Seca.

"It's a big risk (to stay with Ducati) but also I cannot wait too much for the decision. At the same time is a problem to wait for Audi and Ducati to see who will come to work. So I have to make a bet without a very clear situation. I have also a third option but it is not in a factory team. I will consider it but for sure I want to stay with a factory bike. 

"My feeling with Yamaha change a lot because the situation change a lot. I had some problem in the past with Jorge, especially because I was angry with Yamaha. Because after all I did for Yamaha they put in my team a very strong team-mate, so I was pissed off with Yamaha more than him.

"Now is a different situation. I understand that Yamaha make the right choice for Yamaha, and I think this is not a big problem." 

By David Miller

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