The last t♓ime Valentino Rossi raced a Yamaha at Sepang, he won.

That was in the 2010 MotoGP race (pictured), toܫwards the end of his first 'chapter' at Yamaha, after which Rossi endured two winless seasons at D💛ucati.

The Italian superstar returned to the M1 this year, and returned t⛎o the top step of the podium at♕ Assen, one of five rostrums so far.

As well 2010, Rossi has celebrated Sepang victories in 2001, 2003, 200𒆙4, 2006 and 2﷽008 - making him the most successful rider at the circuit.

"The Sepang circuit is a track that I like a lot, I have had many great victories th🐟ere," said seven ti♈me MotoGP champion Rossi, currently fourth in the world championship with four rounds to go.

"I think it suits the Yamaha quite well. It's very demanding physicall♑y because it's very hot, but it's also a great track and chal🍌lenge because of this.

"I want to try to make a good𒁃 weekend and work hard on the set-up to arrive competitively for the r൩ace on Sunday."

Rossi joined his MotoGP rivals for six days of official testing at Sepang in February, finishing third and 🌌fourth respectively.

But the M1 has been significant modified since - not lea✅st the introduction of a seamless shift gearbox.

"In Sepang we did two tests earlꩵier in the season, as the other teams, but in the meantime the bikes have changed a lot," confirmed team director Massimo Meregalli. "Having good weather and good conditions will be important.

"It is also important not to make🎃 mistakes because the races are🦋 three in a row, and the points that we can collect are many. We expect to improve even more, to do better, with both riders [Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo]. We are ready for these three important weeks."

As well as the great memories for Rossi, Sepang was also the scene of his darkest career mo🐠ment, the death of good friend Marco Simoncelli during the 2011 race.