Will the Ageless Doctor' finally have to Hang up
his Crash Bucket?
As we All know, Father Time waits for No One,
as inevitably it's nip-nip-nipping at TK' Follow-your-Schnoz! Kanaan's IndyCar
career.
And now comes news that Yamaha has apparently
forced 40yr old Italian Valentino Rossi's hand, with its announcement of who'll
replace the Motorcycle legend at Yamaha in 2021.
As the final week of January was a busy month
for the Head Honchos' at Yamaha, when first announcing the two year contract
extension of Maverick Vinales thru the 2022 MotoGP season.
then the following day (Jan 29) it was
announced that Yamaha had signed Fabio Quartararo as Thee Doctor's,
nee Valentino Rossi's replacement beginning in 2021 on a similar two year
contract with the Works squad.
As
Quartararo's signing to the Factory Yamahopper Team seemed fairly certain to
Mwah last season, especially since the French Rider was the sensation of the
MotoGP season - and Rossi will be an unheard of 41 next year if he continues
racing in the premiere class.
Meanwhile,
Jorge Lorenzo has been announced as the new Yamaha Test Rider for 2020,
returning to the Japanese manufacturer he had major success with. While Yamaha
hasn't shut the door completely on Valentino either.
As Quartararo's
signing for 2021 comes with the caveat that Yamaha's prepared to provide
Valentino a current spec Yamaha Scooter and support him if he decides to
continue on in 2021.
Possibly
swapping seats at Fabio's current employer Petronas Yamaha SRT, or perhaps with
Rossi's very own VR46 Motorcycle Team finally making the leap to the Big
leagues?
As MotoGP Testing begins at Sepang shortly, and
then it's Lights Out on the start of the 2020 MotoGP season in Qatar on March
8th...
