Amsterdam, Nov 11: World champion Valentino Rossi will ride for Yamaha in MotoGP next year, the Japanese manufacturer confirmed on Monday (November 10). The Italian announced after winning the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix last week that he would not be staying with Honda, with whom he won three straight world championships. The 24-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Yamaha and will start testing with them after his Honda contract expires on December 31. "We are all extremely happy that Valentino will be joining Yamaha in 2004," said Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing. Rossi won nine of 16 races this year in MotoGP, the premier class of grand prix motorcycling that replaced the 500cc category from the 2002 season.


The five-times world champion, he won the 125cc and 250cc titles before moving up to the top class in 2000, said he wanted to make the move from Honda because he no longer found winning on their dominant RCV bike a challenge.


"In our discussions with him it is clear that he relishes the challenge achieving our goal in MotoGP as much as we do," Jarvis added. "He is an incredible talent and will make a huge difference.



"This is a very important step in our plan to re-establish Yamaha as a leading force in grand prix racing."


Valentino Rossi factbox: Nationality: Italian Age: 24 Born: February 16 1979. Urbino, Italy. Grand Prix starts: 124 (30 in 125cc, 30 in 250cc, 64 in 500cc/MotoGP). Grand Prix wins: 59 (12 in 125cc, 14 in 250cc, 33 in 500cc/MotoGP). World champion: 1997 (125cc), 1999 (250cc), 2001 (500cc), 2002, 2003 (MotoGP). 2003 season: Nine wins, second x5, third x2.



Career highlights: 1993 - Italian Sport Production 125cc Championship, 12th. 1994 - Italian Sport Production 125cc champion. 1995 - Aprilia. Italian 125cc champion, third in European 125cc championship. 1996 - Makes 125cc GP debut with Aprilia in Malaysia. First GP win in Brno, Czech Republic. Ninth in championship. 1997 - World 125cc champion, 11 GP wins. 1998 - Moves up to 250cc, winning five races and finishing second in the championship. 1999 - World 250cc champion. Wins seven GPs. 2000 - Honda. Enters 500cc championship. Takes first win at British Grand Prix at Donington. Finishes second in the championship to Kenny Roberts with two race wins. 2001 - Honda. Last 500cc world champion, 11 race wins. 2002 - Honda. First MotoGP world champion, 11 race wins. 2003 - Honda. MotoGP world champion with record number of points (357), nine race wins. Nov 2 - After winning the Valencia Grand Prix, announces he is leaving Honda at the end of the year. Nov 10 - Yamaha announce he has agreed a two-year deal to race for them in MotoGP.



Other facts: With victory in Valencia last Sunday, he equalled Giacomo Agostini's record of 22 consecutive podium finishes. His father Grazzione was also a top rider, competing in 15 500cc GPs in the 1970s. First rider to win title in all three GP categories since Phil Read in 1974. Lives in London. Dutch circuit Assen is his favourite. Describes rallying as his passion. Has been offered test drives by several Formula One teams, including Ferrari. His race number is 46 and his fans wear yellow to show their support for him.


Bureau Report