Valentino Rossi will be running his last two MotoGP seasons with Yamaha Factory Racing alongside ex-team mate Jorge Lorenzo. Having announced his switch from Yamaha to Ducati on August 15 of two years ago, it seems fitting that the Italian chose the same date to issue the official statement proclaiming his return to the Japanese outfit.

Sources close to MotoGP have told Di-ve.com that for months, The Doctor has now been begging Ducati for technical improvements that never materialized; hence Yamaha was the only option to wrap up his glorious MotoGP career before chasing new pastures which do not exclude a trip down Superbike lane. The decision was crowned with the disastrous performance at Laguna Seca two weekends ago, which ended with Vale crashing out on his approach to the Corkscrew.

Back in January this year, Rossi had stated his intentions to stay in Moto GP until the end of 2014, which is the exact time frame of the contract binding him to Yamaha, with whom he has won 46 GPs and 4 world titles. The difficult relationship with Lorenzo escalated in Rossi leaving the blue house in 2010, the year in which Jorge Lorenzo secured his world title, however the rapport with the Spanish rider has over the past two years took a turn for the better.

This move leaves Ducati in search of a new rider to race alongside Nicky Hayden for the next season with Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow seemingly in pole position to fill this post.