Top Selebrities: Rossi will honour Ducati contract

Friday, August 26, 2011

Rossi will honour Ducati contract

Czech Republic MotoGP

Venue: Brno
Date: 12-14 August
Saturday 13 August: MotoGP qualifying: 1150-1500 BST, BBC Red Button/online
Sunday 14 August: 125cc & Moto2 races: 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online; MotoGP live: 1235-1400, BBC Two/online; MotoGP Extra: 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online

Rossi won three consecutive MotoGP titles for Honda in the early 2000s

Valentino Rossi has quashed rumours linking him with a move back to Honda.

Rossi, who has won seven premier-class titles including six MotoGP championships, has endured a torrid debut season for Ducati and is currently fifth in the standings.

But the 32-year-old insists he has no intention of breaking his contract with the Italian factory for the 2012 season and moving back to Honda.

He said: "I will race for Ducati next year - this is not in doubt."

Rossi is under contract at Ducati for next year as well and if he is struggling again then it would be a disastrous way for him to wind down his career

Steve Parrish BBC MotoGP commentator Read more from Steve's column

Rossi has struggled to adapt to the Ducati since leaving Yamaha last winter and has managed just one podium finish all season.

He has only won one race since breaking his leg last May and goes into this weekend's race at Brno with seemingly no chance of regaining the title he last won in 2009.

He said: "I have already signed a contract, so the situation is 100% fixed and for sure I will race with Ducati."