Motorcycling-Rossi to extend contract with Yamaha to 2010

MADRID, June 6 (Reuters) - MotoGP championship leader Valentino Rossi has decided to extend his contract with Yamaha until 2010.

"Yamaha told me you decide how long you want to extend it for, and I have decided it will be two years," the Italian told Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo on Friday.

"I wanted to wait and see how much motivation I had left to continue, and there is my decision."

The 29-year-old is in Spain for the Catalan Grand Prix, which starts its practice sessions on Friday, after winning his third race on the trot in Italy last weekend.

The circuit at Montmelo is one of Rossi's favourites and the seven-times world champion has notched eight victories in all classes there.

His closest rivals in the championship standings are Spaniards Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo, second and third respectively, who will be racing in front of their home fans.

But Rossi is particularly keen to beat defending world champion Australian Casey Stoner.

"I like this course a lot and it also means I can get my revenge on Stoner who beat us here last year. It was a great one-on-one until the last lap," said Rossi.

"It's difficult to say who is the most dangerous, the Spaniards or Stoner." (Writing by Mark Elkington, editing by Martin Petty)