Valentino Rossi insists he has no second thoughts about leaving Ducati, despitꦦe a second place finish in front of his home fans at Misano on Suꦆnday.

The result was Rossi's joint-best as a Ducati M🦂otoGP rider and he finished the race just 4.4s behind winner and world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo.

Seven time MotoGP champion Rossi is ♑to return♔ to Yamaha next season, alongside Lorenzo.

"Unfortunately in MotꦺoGP we start to speak about the next year too early. So we have to do the decision t🎀oo early in the season from my point of view," began Rossi.

"But no [second thoughts]. The choice is done for next year and now for me it is v🐽ery important to try and improve the bike and make some better results from here until the end, because it means that our work is good.

"Also if other riders caꦚn use the Ducati a🃏gainst me [next year] that is a positive thing."

Rossi, who benefitted from a new frame and swingarm at Misano, played down his chances of winning in the remaining five rounds - but di💫d admit that his motivation will be higher.

"𝔍If I can [win] that would be great for me and also for Ducati," he said. "I don't know because Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Stoner this year are very fast. Today was all okay but we are still 4.4 [from victory] so we have to work.

"Every race has a different story, but being able to arrive at the circuit with a good motivation, knowing that it is possible to fight for a goo𒈔d result, changes things very much."

When asked to clarify his earlier comment about MotoGP riders having to decide their future too early in the season, Rossi, whose Yamaha return ✃was officially confirmed on August 10, added:

"After the first three or four races already everybody 🤪in MotoGP starts to speak about next year. For me it is too early. Start to speak after Brno [August], like ten years ago, is better.

"But it is like th𒀰is and I [don't want to change] my choice for next 𒅌year."

Misano marked Rossi's third podium for Ducati since he arrived from Yamaha at the ꦯstart of 2011.

The Doctor, who raced with a special helmet design featuring 🧔himself as a boxer on the ropes, is sixth in the world championship.