Just hours after announcing a new deal to race in MotoGP past his 41st birthday, Valentino Rossi explained that he didn't want to be like Michael Schumacher or Troy Bayliss and make a comeback after retiring too early.

Speaking on the eve of the Qatar season opener, Rossi said he will go on until the end of the 2020 season but didn't rule out a further extension, saying he likes to compete, to ride and he also likes the lifestyle.

“I saw a lot of great riders and also drivers stop at the maximum of their career like Schumacher, Biaggi or Bayliss but I think not everyone was happy about that. chumacher and Bayliss came back to the track so I have decided I will race to the end, I don’t want to think in the future maybe I can do another season or two. It can be a risk, yes, but if I followed that way of thinking I would have stopped already six or seven years ago," said The Doctor.

“I think I am one of the first who has tried it but I think all the other riders that are here are able to stay at the top level until they are 40 because physically it is harder but you can do it. It depends on your motivation and your life if you would like to continue and I think everybody can do it.”