Now confirmed: Valentino Rossi to Yamaha MotoGP in 2013

YAMAHA have offered Valentino Rossi a two-year MotoGP contract followed by a WSB ride in 2015 according to Italian newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport.

Yamaha are planning a return to World Superbikes in 2014 where Rossi would play the role technical developer and then rider of the new bike.

While Rossi hasn't been able to fix Ducati's troubled MotoGP project, a World Superbike championship would galvanize Rossi's legendary status as the only rider to win at 125, 250, 500 and MotoGP and make the crossover to SBK.

Rossi has already tested the Yamaha Factory Superbike in the summer of 2010 to get some practice in after a serious fracture in his right leg in Mugello. He spent half a day on the bike and allegedly equalled the circuit record and solving a problem Cal Crutchlow had been struggling with.

A straw-poll of MotoGP journalists showed that most believed Rossi would make the switch back to Yamaha in MotoGP but believed that Rossi should tay at Ducati to finish what he started.

Gazzetta's article adds credibility to the rumours that Rossi will be leaving Ducati at the end of the season.

Former Yamaha GP rider, Niall Mackenzie tweeted: Done deal! A well known Italian will definitely be on a blue bike next year, woo hoo!