Ducati’s Valentino Rossi turns down Carlos Checa’s WSBK wild card challenge – MotoGP news
Ducati Team rider Valentino Rossi has turned down the wild card challenge to compete in the World Superbike Championship by Carlos Checa.
The Spanish rider invited Rossi to race at the WSBK Imola round on September 25, 2011 which falls between the Motorland Aragon and Japanese GP events of the 2011 MotoGP calendar.
Rossi said, “It is a good idea and I like it but it is always difficult for the calendar. In the past I was always very close to make a WSB race, especially in 2009. There was the race in Qatar but Yamaha said to me they have a new R1.”
Rossi also had a similar opportunity in the 2009 WSBK season but it could not be materialised.
The Italian rider said that he is willing to race in the World Superbike Championship but in the off-season break of MotoGP. Competing in a MotoGP season is a tough task and requires a lot of concentration and hard work from the riders.
Rossi noted the results achieved by Checa and the Ducati machine and said the bike seems to have a fast pace which is attractive.
He further added that he might consider getting aboard a WSBK Ducati machine and have more fun than premier class racing. Although he does not get stressed in the MotoGP season but running in both competitions simultaneously is too much for the Italian rider
to take.
Rossi said, “I heard about this idea from two years ago but maybe it has some good and bad points. Maybe it is more difficult for WSB to be in the winter to find the right places to make the races. I want to try and make one race but if WSB is in the winter
then I don’t make two championships.”
As a matter of fact, Rossi is concentrated to develop the Ducati Desmosedici GP in the MotoGP class. Since his shift to Ducati, he is struggling to achieve good results which have almost devastated his 2011 season.
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