---
title: "MotoGP Champ Valentino Rossi Signs New Two-Year Deal With Yamaha"
description: "The nine-time world champion will remain with his team until 2020."
date: "2018-03-15"
modified: "2018-03-15"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19278/motogp-champ-valentino-rossi-signs-new-two-year-deal-with-yamaha"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "MotoGP"
  - "motorcycle"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Valentino Rossi"
  - "yamaha"
---

# MotoGP Champ Valentino Rossi Signs New Two-Year Deal With Yamaha

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/mym_020318__alx8089.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

MotoGP's most famous rider, [Valentino Rossi](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/15582/watch-a-robots-attempt-to-beat-valentino-rossis-lap-time>), is making headlines again today, but not because of something he's done on the track. The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team announced Thursday that the nine-time world champion has agreed to a two-year contract extension. This new contract will give him the opportunity to conquer the ever-elusive 10th world championship he's been chasing since 2009.

This year's pre-season testing got off to a bit of a crazy start, with rumors that Honda's golden boy, [Marc Marquez](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/7049/yes-thats-a-motogp-bike-on-a-ski-lift>), could steal Rossi's number one position at Yamaha. The rumors were squashed when Marquez re-signed a two-year contract with Repsol Honda, and now we know that Rossi will remain at Yamaha at least until the 2020 racing season.

![message-editor%2F1521125686660-538867608.jpg.html.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1521125686660-538867608.jpg.html.jpeg>)
*Valentino Rossi celebrates his two-year contract extension with Yamaha., *Yamaha**

At 39 years of age, Valentino is the oldest man on the grid but is also one of the [fittest](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/14019/valentino-rossi-breaks-leg-likely-ending-shot-at-motogp-title>) and most experienced. Clearly, his age wasn't a detractor to Yamaha, which although undisclosed, most likely ponied-up tens of millions of euros to secure the Italian for two more years.

"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," said Rossi.

![message-editor%2F1521125730926-mym\_030318\_\_alx0905.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1521125730926-mym_030318__alx0905.jpg>)
*Rossi during a pre-season test at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar., *Yamaha**

"Having the opportunity to work with my team, with Silvano, Matteo and all my mechanics, and working with all Japanese engineers, Tsuji-san, and above all Tsuya-san, is a pleasure - I’m happy."

"The Doctor," as Rossi is nicknamed, will ride the brand-new [Yamaha](<https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/19126/heres-what-yamaha-has-planned-for-daytona-bike-week>) YZR-M1 MotoGP bike along with his teammate, Spaniard Maverick Vinales. "Having both Maverick and Valentino now signed for 2019-20 allows us to just focus all of our energy on the 2018 season and to be strong contenders at every single MotoGP Grand Prix. It promises to be a highly competitive season and like all the fans - we in Yamaha are truly excited to go racing on Sunday night here in Losail, " said Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)