• [Dailystar Icon]
• Sport
• MotoGP
• Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi takes aim at Marc Marquez after strange Honda call

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi wasn't impressed with Marc Marquez's decision to stay at Honda

Valentino Rossi has questioned Marc Marquezs decision to commit his future to Honda.

The Catalan superstar is a dominant force in MotoGP and cruised to title glory last season.

And, following the retirement of Jorge Lorenzo as a premier class rider, he is now sharing a garage with his brother Alex.

Marquez penned fresh term with the Japanese heavyweights last week and will remain on the books until 2024.

Honda Racing Corporation are delighted to announce six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has signed a four-year extension of his contract and will continue to race with the factory team until at least December 2024, the team said in a statement.

However, not everyone is impressed with the call.

Rossi, who looks set to call it quits at the end of this forthcoming campaign, suggested he was surprised by the decision.

When asked if he felt Marquez would change teams, Rossi told GPone : I wouldnt know to be honest.

He decided to stay with Honda - and for four years, which is also a bit strange.

If thats what he decided, he must have had his reasons.

Rossi is now 41 years old, making him the oldest rider on the grid by some distance.

Marco Melandri - who worked with Rossi at Yamaha - says he needs to call it quits.

[Dailystar Icon]

Today's top sport stories on Daily Star

[WWE star Brie Bella gives birth]

WWE star Brie Bella gives birth

[Neymar's ex wows in Instagram selfie]

Neymar's ex wows in Instagram selfie

[Hamilton wins British GP on three wheels]

Hamilton wins British GP on three wheels

[O'Sullivan hailed 'genius' after shot]

O'Sullivan hailed 'genius' after shot

He is too old for MotoGP, Melandri told German publication Speedweek.de.

Of course, even if it's difficult to accept, but you have to be honest with yourself. It's not nice. If you always keep pushing and can't improve.

Today's drivers are 20-years old, they belong to another generation. They have a different driving style, a different physical shape and a different mentality.

Quartararo has never been exceptionally fast in his career, but today he has the perfect bike for his riding style and his results have exploded.

Nobody he will be happy when Valentino Rossi retires, first of all Dorna, because he allows you to earn a lot of money. Retiring is much more difficult than continuing to go wrong.

Your real opponent is time, and that cannot be stopped, it always goes on. A rider must accept that the years pass and that life changes.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.