Former 500cc world champion Wayne Gardner has advised Valentino Rossi not to bother waiting until after the next three races to make a decision on early shoulder surgery, but to get it done now.
Outgoing seven time MotoGP champion Rossi suffered the shoulder injury in a motocross accident in April and it's now proving more troublesome than the leg he broke in June.
After finishing a season's worst sixth last Sunday at Aragon, Rossi revealed he would make a decision on early surgery after the forthcoming flyaway races in Japan, Malaysia and Australia.
That might mean skipping the final two rounds of the season at Estoril and Valencia, but Gardner says Rossi should just bring his Yamaha career to an immediate end and get in shape for 2011 and Ducati.
"After seeing him struggle so badly in Sunday's race, Valentino Rossi should opt out of the remaining races and have surgery to fix his shoulder," Gardner wrote on his official website, waynegardnerapproved.com.au.
"There is absolutely nothing to be gained by postponing the inevitable. He's not fighting for the championship and will not win another race this year in his current condition.
"There's zero benefit from riding in pain for the rest of the year, battling for positions he would normally be able to achieve with one hand tied behind his back.
"He needs to get the work done now.
"Vale knows it will take two-months to get over this type of surgery. Only then will he be able to begin training and preparing properly for 2011.
"I know there's probably a lot of pressure on him from numerous quarters - Dorna especially - to see out the remaining races of the current calendar. However, he needs to put himself and his health first.
"Next year will be tough. He needs to start if off in the best possible shape."
With five rounds to go, Rossi is fourth in the world championship standings, one point ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and 15 behind Casey Stoner.
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