Ducati's loss is Yamaha's gain. Though rumors to this effect were in the pipeline, it is now officially declared that Valentino Rossi, the champion Italian motorcycle racer, has signed with Yamaha MotoGP. Rossi will represent the Yamaha team at the 2013 and 2014 MotoGP season. Rossi's partnership with Yamaha goes back a long time which has seen the young racer successful in four of a total of seven MotoGP titles with Yamaha.
Yamaha's No 1 rider, Jorge Lorenzo has also extended his contract till the 2014 season and now with the addition of Rossi to the team, Yamaha is geared to compete in MotoGP with what many consider the strongest team possible. The duo have raced together during 2008, 2009 and 2010 during which Yamaha achieved three crown titles, Riders, Manufacturers and Team World Championships.
Rossi leaves Ducati at the end of this season where his place will be taken by Yamaha Tech riders Cal Crutchlow or Andrea Dovizioso. Ducati announced that the 33 year old Rossi's contract with the company will come to an end at the end of this year. Rossi also denied rumors that he was going to retire at the end of this season. His last victory was in October 2010 in Malaysia and Rossi currently stands eighth in the world championship classification.
In a statement released by Ducati, they stated, "As the MotoGP series awaits its return to action for the August 19 Indianapolis Grand Prix, Ducati announces that its working relationship with Valentino Rossi will conclude at the end of the 2012 MotoGP World Championship. Ducati wishes the Italian driver all the best in the new challenges he will face, and will in the meantime continue to do all it can to ensure growing success in the last part of the season."
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