In the time between the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and this coming weekend’s Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, it was announced that nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi would end his two-year relationship with Ducati and return to the factory Yamaha MotoGP team alongside Jorge Lorenzo. This development was one of the main topics at Thursday’s pre-event press conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as Rossi answered reporters’ questions about his change of teams and said that he made the move to hopefully enjoy and extend the end of his long MotoGP career. “After Laguna and the summer break, I have enough time for to think more deeply to my future,” Rossi said. “You know, this is a great pity for me and Ducati and for all of our fans, but especially for all the guys that work with me at this project because I want to try to be competitive. Italian rider with Italian bike, but unfortunately, it doesn’t happen. These two seasons are very difficult, and we struggling very much. Unfortunately, we were not able to improve our speed, our performance, and to fight for the good position, for the front position. “So I decide for this that it is enough, and my choice is because I try to understand which is the best bike, the more competitive bike for the next two years that maybe at the end of my career or, you know, but anyway, the last part, and this is the choice. It’s a great pity. I’m very sad, also, because I, in Ducati, find a lot of good people. We had great times together. We try the maximum, but unfortunately we were not able to achieve the result. So this is what makes the difference.” Rossi has decided to return to Yamaha, for whom he raced with from 2004 to 2010, winning 46 races and four MotoGP World Championships. “I had some different options,” said Rossi, “and I tried to choose the best bike for me for the next two seasons and just this for the rest — the rest of the contract is not a problem. I’m happy about the contract for the next two seasons. I know that I can be stronger with the M1 and especially can enjoy because, you know, the next two seasons for me will be hard, especially try to stay with Jorge, also to beat Jorge, because now he’s very, very fast. But I need a bike for enjoy. At this moment of my career I have to enjoy. I have to try to fight and to arrive happy at the racetrack.” Asked if his new, two-year deal with Yamaha included a later stint in the Superbike World Championship, Rossi said, “My future will depend a lot from the result of the next two seasons. Because I want to remain more than two seasons in MotoGP but depends how much I’m strong and I’m fast with the M1. And to have the opportunity for the future for Superbike, yeah, I always say. But it’s very early to say, because I hope to be faster, to be competitive, to enjoy and remain in MotoGP more than two seasons.” As for his goals for 2013 and 2014, Rossi said, “For sure, the world title is a dream. But in my condition now, especially you have to understand if I’m still a top rider, if I’m still fast, and if I can fight for the front row, if I can still fight for the podium. I don’t know, because after two seasons [2011-2012] like this, nobody knows. So before I speak about the championship, I have to understand if I can fight from the front row, I can fight for the podium. And after, we will see.” Rossi confirmed that he will accept a reduced compensation package by going to Yamaha over continuing with Ducati when a reporter asked: “How much money are you losing because of your decision? “You want the exact amount?” Rossi jokingly asked, before holding his hands to his head and squinting his eyes as if he were thinking hard. “It’s a big calculation.” Regarding the rumors that Rossi was bringing sponsorship money to Yamaha’s team to help secure his spot, Rossi said, “These [rumors] are just bullshit. I don’t know why I have to bring money to race with Yamaha. I am happy about my contract, and my contract is fixed. So I hope that Yamaha can find a good sponsor for next year. I think speak with some other guys and — yes, it’s true speak with Monster but already before I arrive. And the team will not be separate, for sure. I don’t know if maybe have one bike one sponsor, the other bike a little bit different, but I think no. I think will be all the same.” A fierce rivalry existed between Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo when they were teammates at Yamaha before, a factor that led to Rossi leaving and going to Ducati. Considering this, Rossi was asked about returning to be Lorenzo’s teammate once again. “Yeah, will be interesting,” said Rossi. “Now the situation change a lot compared to the past, compared to 2008 when Jorge arrive to Yamaha. Now he’s the No. 1 in the team, and our relationship are good. I have respect for him, and he have respect for me. So I think we can stay together. I am sure that together we can form a great team for Yamaha, for try to achieve good result in the next seasons.” For now, however, Rossi said he remains committed to Ducati for the remaining eight rounds of the 2012 World Championship. “Yes, are very important,” said Rossi. “Unfortunately, we have to speak about the next year very early in the season. But we still have eight races. And now is an important moment because first, this track [Indianapolis Motor Speedway] for me, is always — I was able to win in 2008, but it is a difficult track for me. Last year was very bad. So we have to keep the concentration of me with my team and try to make the maximum. And after is an important period because Brno is a good track, and after Brno we will have some important tests in Misano, and we have to try to improve the bike to improve our pace for the rest of the races because, anyway, eight races is a long way.”