TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) president-director Ricky Baheramsjah announced that he will undertake the task to bring the 9-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi to the Mandalika GP in 2021. This comes after strong speculations of the Yamaha star’s future beyond 2021.

“I truly hope that Rossi will continue to race. I am really pinning my hopes on him. I genuinely would love to see him race in Mandalika,” said Ricky on Wednesday, February 26. “I will force him to be present in the 2021 Mandalika GP.”

The presence of such a major racing persona, he argues, will help boost the glamor and attract more spectators to visit the Mandalika street circuit located in West Nusa Tenggara’s coastal resort area in Central Lombok Regency.

“But if he does decide to retire from racing, we will try to invite him here as he is a major MotoGP icon. He’s a legend, he is the Doctor. Representing the MGPA, we would really love it if Rossi is present at the race,” said Ricky about the 41-year old racer.

Speculations about Valentino Rossi’s future beyond 2021 became more evident after Yamaha MotoGP’s factory team signed a 2-year contract with young potential Fabio Quartararo for the 2021-2022 season, which place him beside current Yamaha Factory Racing’s Maverick VInales, who also extended his contract up to 2022.

ANTARA