Rossi to join Lorenzo at Yamaha

Rossi first joined Yamaha in 2004 and won four MotoGP titles with them.

Rossi first joined Yamaha in 2004 and won four MotoGP titles with them.

Published Aug 12, 2012

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Italian motorcycling great Valentino Rossi will leave Ducati at the end of the MotoGP season and rejoin Yamaha on a two-year deal.

Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis said on Friday: “In June,we were able to sign Jorge Lorenzo for the 2013-14 season and now we are able to confirm Valentino Rossi for the next two years.”

The 33-year-old nine-times World champion - seven in the premier class - first joined Yamaha in 2004 and won four MotoGP titles with the manufacturer before agreeing a two-year deal with Ducati at the end of the 2010 season.

However, the dream of pairing up Italy's best-known rider with Italy's top team turned into a nightmare and he finished seventh on an uncompetitive bike in 2011.

This season has been just as bad with Rossi lying eighth.

Rossi left Yamaha because he felt having two very strong riders in one team did not work. His then Yamaha team mate was 2010 champion and current championship leader Lorenzo but the Italian will now return to the same arrangement.

Lorenzo has ridden for Yamaha since 2008 and leads the current championship by 23 points after 10 races of the 18-race season. Rossi has secured only one podium finish all season.

Jarvis said: “We have run this 'super team' together in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and during that time we achieved the triple crown titles with Rider, Manufacturer and Team World championship victories for three consecutive years.

“I have no doubt that with the experience, knowledge, skills and speed of these two great champion riders we will be able to challenge for many race wins and for the 2013 and 2014 World Championship titles.”

Ducati said they were in the process of finalising their 2013 championship line-up having recently renewed their agreement with American Nicky Hayden.

Rossi, who last won the championship in 2009, has often been linked with a move to Formula One team Ferrari and pundits wonder whether Rossi made an error in not switching to four wheels when he had the chance with the Italians in 2006 and again in 2009. - Reuters

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