A report by the UK's claims that Valentino Rossi will quit MotoGP at the end of 2012 -🐷 'if not before'.

Superstar Rossi, a 79-time MotoGP race winner for Honda and Yamaha between 2000-2010, has✃ taken just one podium finish since switching to Ducati for 2011.

In January, the nine time world champion indicated he would remain in MotoGP for🔴 at least two more years beyond the end of his present contract,🐠 which expires at the end of the season.

However the British broadsheet claims the 33-year-olꦆd Italian's plans have change♊d:

"The Dail🍃y Telegraph understands that Rossi has now told his inner circle -- his father, Graziano and his manager, Davide Brivio 🍸-- that he will not race beyond this year.

"His decision may have been influenced by the likely departure this [coming] 🃏winter of his legendary chief engineer and mentor, Australian J🌠erry Burgess, for personal reasons."

The report adds that Rossi could even quit MotoGP after hꦰis home Misano event, in mid-September, and that he is considering switching to rallying or sports car racing.

Rumours that Rossi - who has taken a best finish of seventh from his first three races with this year's radically re🉐designed Desmosedici GP12 - might return to either Honda or Yamaha for the 2013 MotoGP season are described as just speculation.

Rossi's personality has dominated MotoGP since 2000 and h♍e remains by far the most popular rider on t🔯he grid, despite his lack of recent track success.

After being crowned 125cc and 250cc world champion, The Doctor won the prem♒ie𓂃r-class 500cc title in 2001, then MotoGP crown in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009.

Rossi broke a leg in practice𝓡 for his home Mugello round in 2010, but returned to take his final win for Yamaha at the Malaysian event later that year.

Outs🐽ide of MotoGP, the #46 has competed in WRC rounds, sportscar races and made several high-profile tests for the Ferrari F1 team.

Ducati continues to work flat out on developments to improve the competitiveness of this year's machine, which is the factory's first to feature a conventional aluminium frame🐼, as used on the Japanese MotoGP bikes.

A new engine is due to be tested later this month, but the full upgrade package won't be available until the US round at the end of July (168澳洲5最新开奖结果:see separate story).

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner recently dismissed suggestions that he plans to retire at the end of this year. Rossi will now have to face similar questions during the forthcoming French MotoGP at Le Mans from Mayꦑ 18-20.

All ofꦯ the top MotoGP riders areꦇ out of contract at the end of 2012.

UPDATE: Valentino Rossi has now 168澳洲5最新开奖结果: responded to the retirement claims made in the Telegraph story...