Pics: Valentino Rossi makes Yamaha return

Valentino Rossi has returned to Yamaha’s official factory MotoGP squad at the Valencia track today.

The Italian arrived at Yamaha’s garage at the Ricardo Tormo track in the middle of the afternoon ahead of his much hyped return to a factory YZR-M1 tomorrow when the 2013 winter testing campaign gets underway in Spain.

Rossi ended a disastrous two-year spell with Ducati in Valencia yesterday in dismal fashion when his final race on board the struggling GP12 Desmosedici saw him lapped.

He finished 10th and left Ducati with just three podium finishes in 35 races.

He returns to partner Jorge Lorenzo in 2013 after winning four world titles and 46 races for Yamaha during the most successful spell in the Japanese factory’s history between 2004 and 2010.

How much testing Rossi will get on the YZR-M1 1000cc machine tomorrow remains to be seen, with rain predicted for the afternoon.

Rain is also expected to dominate Wednesday’s second day, and Yamaha could leave Valencia to move to the Motorland Aragon for one day.

Ducati and Honda both plan to remain in Valencia.