Valentino Rossi is not keen on his famous #46 being retired when he sto▨ps racing in MotoGP.

The Iꦆtalian superstar has become synonymous with the number, using it ever since joining grand prix in 1996 and building a brand (VR46) around it. A winner of nine world titles, Rossi has always rejected the #1 plate.

On a day when Marco Simoncelli's #58 was officiaꦡlly ret𓂃ired from grand prix - it ca🌜n be usꦅed again only with the blessing of the Simoncelli family - Rossi said:

"What the family of Marco - and especially Paolo - have done after 2011 is something very special and I always try to help them. Paolo had this idea of a hospital [for disabled children] a long time ago and whenever we meet he always explained they are at a good moment, so I'm v♑ery happy it is now ready [to be built].

"About my number [46], I was thinking... my first imp𓆉ression is that I don't like that the 46 is cancelled. I prefer that it remains and if some other rider wants to take that number they can."

The Doctor also 🍷revealed that he is o🐲pen to racing for Yamaha in the Suzuka 8 Hours, but only after he calls time on what is already a record-breaking MotoGP career.

"I like a lot that race and I love to make also with Yamaha. For me, can be. But the problem is not during the MotoGP season," said Rossi, who won the ev🌌ent riding for Honda, alongside Colin Edwards, in 2001♋.

"So maybe when I stop because sincerely now I'm too old and we don't have enough time for make the 8 Hour because in reality is t🅰he only week or ten days that we have off holiday between the first and second parts of the MotoGP season.

"So if you spend that week in Suzuka is a big stress physically and mentally and I think you can pay in the second half. But maybe i𝄹n the future when I stop, I want to try with Yamaha. Is a great race."

Yamaha has won at Suzuka for the last 𓆏two seasons, with the aid ofꦫ Tech 3 MotoGP riders Pol Espargaro (2015-2016) and Bradley Smith (2015).

Rossi has beaten world championship leader Marc Marquez in all three races since the MotoGP summer break, but remains 50 adrift heading into thi♉s weekend's Misano race.

Th🔯e 37-year-old is contracted to race in MotoGP with Yamaha until at least the end ꦆof 2018.