Rossi has one more year on his deal with Yamaha

Rossi handed Yamaha their first championship title since 1992 in his first season with the team.

Crew chief Jeremy Burgess said he stuck with the four-time champion because he "wanted the challenge.

"I felt if anybody had the potential to be successful, working with Valentino would help maximize that potential."

Burgess also revealed it was the duo's shared determination to win that had brought them so much success.

Rossi is in a class of his own

"We don't go to the racetrack each weekend hoping to win. We expect to win," he added.

"If we finish second, third or fourth then we have to know the reasons why.

"If we're second and we have problems then over time we will be able to fix those problems.