Valentino Rossi has make clear the fall-out which led to his Honda exit.
Rossi was already a five-time world champion when he bizarrely walked away from Honda on the finish of 2003, to hitch the unfancied Yamaha.
The remainder is historical past – however Rossi has described his bitter feeling with Honda which led to his departure.
“After I signed the second contract with Honda, in 2002, I used to be already ‘Valentino Rossi’,” he informed Andrea Migno’s podcast.
“My supervisor pushed, we requested for some huge cash. Honda arm-wrestled us.
“Honda stated ‘okay’ then [waited, waited, waited]…
“In January they referred to as and stated ‘we provides you with this cash, it’s the tip of January, what the f*** else are you going to do?’
“They screwed us economically. I ought to have earned extra.”
Honda was like Ducati now
Valentino Rossi
“The Honda then was just like the Ducati now,” Rossi stated.
“The primary bikes had been all Hondas.
“Let’s say now that Pecco Bagnaia decides to go to Yamaha – it might be insanity!
“However Honda weren’t very good. It was ‘Valentino Rossi solely gained due to the Honda’.
“In each interview, they stated ‘the primary 5 bikes are all Hondas, so if Rossi is there? Then okay…’
“Honda are powerful and robust. We determined to go to Yamaha…”
Honda notoriously wouldn’t let Rossi check his new Yamaha on the 2003 postseason check.
It meant Rossi couldn’t strive his new package deal till early-2004, giving him a serious drawback heading into the season.
However he sensationally gained the primary race in South Africa, which he nonetheless regards his biggest second, earlier than capturing a sixth world championship that yr.
