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Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi says he will continue in MotoGP until the end of 2018 if he elects to race beyond the end of this season.

Like the other seven factory Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Suzuki riders, Rossi's current contract expires at the end of 2016.

Rossi's team boss Lin Jarvis is braced for a "very interesting" silly season, and Ducati is reported to have made an approach to Yamaha's world champion Jorge Lorenzo.

Turning 37 next Tuesday, Rossi outlined one of his major considerations, telling Sky Sports Italia that he is not thinking about a single-year contract.

"At the end of 2016 my contract will expire," he said.

"So I will have to decide whether to continue for another two seasons or not.

"If I continue, it will be for two seasons as all the contracts are for two years."

How manufacturers adapt to MotoGP's new control electronics and Michelin tyres is set to play a role in any rider movement, and Rossi expects to make his call on continuing early in the season.

"It will be like 2014 when I said I will look at it after the first few races," he said.

"You have to look at the first five or six races then start thinking."