Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has confirmed he will race in MotoGP next season and that the furore following the Sepang incident has not dimmed his passion for the sport.

Rossi will have to start from the back of the grid on Sunday’s race at Valencia after the Court for Arbitration in Sport today declined his appeal to have his penalty delayed but he says he will approach the weekend as normally as possible.

“I try to do all the same. I have been able to be quiet in the last ten days and prepare in the normal way, like the normal routine. Today I know that I have to start last but it doesn’t change the attitude. We are focused, we have to try and we try to take it like a positive motivation,” said Rossi, speaking at Valencia this afternoon.

“For sure my dream was to fight for the championship and after a difficult season. For the rest, this situation doesn’t modify my passion or my thinking for the future. I will race next year because I already have the contract. During next year a lot of things will change and after I will decide to continue or no.”