Ducati's Valentino Rossi quashes Honda rumours

Image caption, Rossi won three consecutive MotoGP titles for Honda in the early 2000s

Valentino Rossi has quashed rumours linking him with a move back to Honda.

Rossi, who has won seven premier-class titles including six MotoGP championships, has endured a torrid debut season for Ducati and is currently fifth in the standings.

But the 32-year-old insists he has no intention of breaking his contract with the Italian factory for the 2012 season and moving back to Honda.

He said: "I will race for Ducati next year - this is not in doubt."

Rossi has struggled to adapt to the Ducati since leaving Yamaha last winter and has managed just one podium finish all season.

He has only won one race since and goes into this weekend's race at Brno with seemingly no chance of regaining the title he last won in 2009.

He said: "I have already signed a contract, so the situation is 100% fixed and for sure I will race with Ducati."