ROSSI EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH YAMAHA

The announcement followed the recent Dutch TT at Assen, and comes midway through an excellent season for the MotoGP veteran. Rossi currently sits in second in the standings having taken four second place finishes and a total of five podiums from eight races this year.

After three consecutive premier class titles with Honda, Rossi joined Yamaha in 2004, where he added another four titles to his repertoire before departing for the disastrous two-year stint with Ducati in 2011.

Rossi's return to Yamaha in 2013 didn't yield great results initially, but the veteran's form so far this season has led him to believe he can still compete at the top for another two seasons.

"I am very happy to announce that I have signed a new contract with Yamaha to continue together in MotoGP for the next two years'" Rossi commented.

"I am very proud of this announcement. It's very important to me because I really enjoy working with my crew and all the guys from the team, both the Japanese and European members that have been with me almost my entire career.

"It's great because this was my target; I wanted to continue, I am feeling good and I'm motivated to keep giving my best. I am very happy that I can keep riding my YZR-M1, that has been my love for so many years and will still be my love this year and the following two seasons.

"A big 'Thank You' to everybody, I will try to keep giving the maximum to arrive in front and make good races.

"At Assen, we did a good race but at the Sachsenring we'll try to do better. I like the track; it's very difficult, very tricky and very small. In the last few years it was not so bad, especially with the Yamaha."

Rossi's premier class record stands at 106 wins, 188 podiums, 59 pole positions and 88 fastest laps since his GP debut back in 1998. The Italian also racked up his 300th GP start at the Mugello round earlier this year.