World champion Valentino Rossi's Yamaha MotoGP team will continue with tobacco funding in 2006 after announcing Camel as their new title sponsor.

The deal ensures the highest-profile team in bike racing will have tobacco sponsorship despite it being banned in the European Union.

The Japan Tobacco International brand previously sponsored the Pons team.

Pons announced last week that they were quitting MotoGP because of lack of funding due to their deal ending.