Yamaha keep Rossi in '06

Yamaha has officially confirmed that Valentino Rossi will stay with the team for the 2006 MotoGP world championship.

The five-times world champion is leading the current championship by 120 point following his eighth victory at the German Grand Prix on Sunday, July 31. This leaves him likely to take his second world championship with Yamaha after taking the title in his debut year on the YZR M1.

“I am so happy to be able to announce the continuation of my relationship with Yamaha,” said Rossi. “Last year was magic, to win my first race with Yamaha, and then to win the championship. I have a fantastic relationship with this factory and my team crew, who have worked so hard to make the M1 as competitive as it is now, and it just made sense to stay with Yamaha for another year.”

Find out more about Rossi’s plans for the future in MCN, August 3.

This followed the news revealed in MCN, July 27, that Rossi will continue to race in MotoGP until the end of 2007, to give himself a chance to dominate the planned new 800cc era in 2007, and he hasn’t ruled out another change of manufacturer for the 2007 season.