Rossi rules out having a MotoGP team until 2021

It was recently announced that Tech 3 will put an end to its 18-year collaboration with Yamaha, with teams such as Avintia and Angel Nieto expressing interest to replace the French squad.

Another option was thought to be a new team entered by Rossi, which Yamaha previously stated would be the manufacturer's priority.

However, when the Italian was asked whether entering MotoGP as a team owner is an option in the near future, he ruled out such a move until at least 2021.

He also said that "most likely I will still be racing" until then, hinting at his yet-to-be-confirmed contract extension with Yamaha.

"We thought about it, it was a nice idea, but we can’t do it," said Rossi after the opening day of the Qatar MotoGP test.

"For the next two years I won’t have a team in MotoGP with Yamaha, also because most likely I will still be racing.

"It could be something to consider in future, when I stop racing, but not in 2019 or 2020.

"The situation is quite clear, although I didn’t expect [Tech 3 boss Herve] Poncharal would leave Yamaha."

Rossi completed the first Qatar MotoGP test day in seventh while his teammate Maverick Vinales set the pace, rebounding from a troubled Buriram test.

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont