Valentino Rossi will remain in the MotoGP World Championship in 2007 after Yamaha today confirmed the seven-time World Champion will stay with the Japanese factory for another year. MotoGP will be entering a brand new era with the introduction of 800cc four-stroke machines into the class next year, and Rossi has blown away months of speculation about a possible move to four wheels or even another factory team, by deciding to head up Yamaha's challenge for another season.Rossi boasts five consecutive MotoGP World Championship titles, two of which have come with Yamaha, and without a doubt a major factor in his decision to stay in MotoGP will be the renewed challenge seen from numerous young riders in the class. The likes of Nicky Hayden, Marco Melandri, Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner have lit up an incredible MotoGP season so far, and have left Rossi down in eighth position in the championship, 43 points behind leader Hayden before this weekend's Gran Premio d'Italia Alice.
The 27 year-old superstar remarked, "I'm very pleased to be staying with Yamaha next year. These past two years with Yamaha have been two of the best of my career and I am extremely happy to stay with them and with my team. I believe I have made the right choice and I am very excited about the challenge of a new class of racing with Yamaha next year."
Meanwhile, Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis commented, "We are firstly delighted that Valentino has chosen to stay in MotoGP. He is a great ambassador for motorcycle racing in general and extremely important to the global image of this sport. He is the most talented and the fastest rider on the grid and the benchmark to which others aspire."
Jarvis went on to add, "We are extremely happy that Valentino has chosen to continue his illustrious MotoGP career with Yamaha in 2007. Yamaha and Valentino have an excellent relationship and we have enjoyed great success together since our partnership was born in 2004. It's exciting news for Yamaha's fans; Valentino's worldwide appeal unites them under one banner and brings more and more people daily into the Yamaha 'family'."
Source: Dorna Communications