Rossi signs new two-year deal with Movistar Yamaha – 39 years old now, still MotoGP-ing it when he’s 41…

Valentino Rossi has signed a new two-year deal to continue in MotoGP with the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team. The announcement will see the 39-year-old compete in a record 24 seasons of Grand Prix racing and continue his association with the Japanese manufacturer in the premier class for 15 years.

Rossi’s first season with Yamaha was 2004, where he spectacularly won on his debut with the team in South Africa, before going on to take the title the same year. He went on to win the Championship again in 2005, before then losing out in 2006 and 2007 – but the ‘Doctor’ was soon back on top.

In 2008, the rider from Tavullia claimed the title in supreme fashion – a feat he repeated the year after in 2009 to make it another back-to-back run. It marks Rossi’s most recent title to date, although the number 46 has challenged for the crown since.

Rossi said: “When I signed my last contract with Yamaha, in March 2016, I wondered if that would have been the last contract as a MotoGP rider. At that time, I decided that I’d take that decision during the following two years. During the last two years I came to the conclusion that I want to continue because racing, being a MotoGP rider, but especially riding my M1, is the thing that makes me feel good.