Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is seeking a sensational divorce from Ducati in a bid to resurrect his stalled MotoGP career with former employer Yamaha.

Rossi is seeking to return to the Japanese team with which he won four of his seven world titles and 46 races.

So demoralised is Rossi by a long losing streak at Ducati that he is even prepared to return to Yamaha as No.2 rider to their star Jorge Lorenzo, so that he can ride a bike that would allow him to “fight for race wins”.

Rossi is prepared to give up a reported US$40 million ($49 million) two-year offer from Ducati’s new German owners Audi to switch back.

Lorenzo has won five out of 10 races this season and is 32 points ahead of Australia’s Casey Stoner (Honda) in the world championship standings.

Rossi has been unable to emulate the performances of Stoner who won 23 races and the 2007 world title on the Ducati.

Rossi’s troubled marriage to Ducati hit a new low at last Sunday’s US Grand Prix when he crashed out from a lowly eighth place with three laps remaining.

Rossi will use the summer break to consider a last-minute plea from Ducati-Audi to stay while sources close to Rossi say he is “80% committed” to Yamaha.

Rossi says he is facing the “most difficult decision of my career” as he weighs up the offers ahead of the 2013 MotoGP championship.

He explained his dilemma was based not only on assessing the relative strengths of each team, but also its riders – specifically Lorenzo, who he labelled the “best rider in the world”.

“This is perhaps the most difficult decision of my career, because I have to decide where and how to end my career. The decision is up to me, it doesn’t depend on others.

“I have three proposals on the table and all three of them have positive and negative aspects. With one of them there would be more uncertainties on how quickly positive results come, while with the other two it should be easier to get them quickly.”

Pressed about the possibility of him returning to Yamaha, where he enjoyed unprecedented success between 2004 and 2010, Rossi admitted Lorenzo’s form made the decision harder than in 2003, when he switched from the works Honda team.

“Clearly that would be a difficult choice too, perhaps even more than the one I made in 2003,” he said.

“Back then it was a matter of sorting out a bike that wouldn’t go quick, while now it’s a matter of beating the best rider in the world on equal machinery.”

Rossi added that Ducati remains a strong option given Audi’s involvement, saying: “We are talking [with Ducati], but we haven’t got into technical details unfortunately… in fact scratch unfortunately: I’m proud that the new owner, Audi, wants to make this project a winner and wants to do it with me.”

As Rossi ponders his options, Andrea Dovizioso, also linked strongly to the second Yamaha works ride, expressed his frustrations at having to play second fiddle to the seven-time champion.

“Yes, it is a bit upsetting, because you feel little consideration towards you,” Dovizioso admitted. “It’s normal that a rider, who has won a lot more than me, has more power but, as far as I’m concerned, I can’t do more than I have.

“In the first nine races this year I’ve been quick and got on the podium four times with performances that probably no one had expected. I think it’s legitimate to believe I should have great chances to get on a works bike, but unfortunately it’s not the case.

“There won’t be news here, we can only wait for Valentino’s decision. I have set a deadline for myself, but I can’t wait for Yamaha forever either. Ducati is an extremely interesting option, even though the bike is not a winner at the moment. But they have everything to improve.”

Photo courtesy Ducati