Motorcycling-Rossi to make decision on MotoGP future after next four races

(Reuters) - Valentino Rossi said on Thursday that his performances in the next few MotoGP races starting with this weekend's Italian Grand Prix might prove decisive when he discusses his future with his team Petronas Yamaha at the end of the season.

Rossi, a seven-times premier class world champion, has fared poorly this season after making a switch from the factory Yamaha team and he is currently 19th in the standings without a single top-10 finish in five races.

The 42-year-old has dismissed talk of retirement in the past but said they were entering an "important period" in the season with four races in five weeks in Italy, Catalunya, Germany and the Netherlands.

"Everybody will start to think about 2022 during that period. In that point, I will make my decision," Rossi, whose deal with the Yamaha satellite outfit ends this year, told reporters.

"But also it's not only my decision, I have to speak with the Petronas team and also with Yamaha to understand what their plans are for next year.

"We will see, but for sure now these four races are very important for us to try and find some good results."

Rossi boasts the longest winning career, spanning more than 20 years between victories, with 89 wins in the top category. The Italian is the only rider to have competed in more than 400 grands prix.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Ken Ferris)