A fifth place in the intense Assen battle means that Valentino Rossi 💞and Yamaha have now gone over one cal𓃲endar year without a MotoGP victory.

They✤ have also matched the 18-race win drought of 2002-2003, before Rossi join🗹ed the team in 2004.

But this weekend's German Grand Prix isn't t🍸he easiest venue on paper for Yamaha to return to winning ways.

Marc Marquez and Honda h♚ave been🅷 victorious at the Sachsenring for the last five years.

Meanwhile Rossi was fifth, just behind team-mate Maverick Vinales, in last y꧋ear's race and hasn’t won at the venue since 2009.

"Assen was an incredible race, so I really want to get back on track again," said Rossi, second in the world cha🦂mpionship, but a dist🉐ant 41 points from Marquez.

"I do𒉰n't know if we can repeat a race like that at the Sachsenring, but we'll try to do everything to be at the front with the top𝄹 riders," Rossi said.

"Last year's German G♏P w🎶as not a very positive weekend for us, so it will be very important to understand our potential this weekend.

"We will have to work hard, starting from the f🐼irst practice session on Friday, to get ready for the race, but I'm confident. I feel good and my team are working really well.

"The race at the Sachsenring is the last race before the short MotoGP summer break🐽, so we want to do our best to make it a good battle on Sunday, to end the first half of the season in a good way."

Team director Massimo Meregalli added: "The Sachsenriꩲng suits our bike reasonably well, however, bike set-up plays a vital role there.

"To match the se🌃ttings to the track's narrow nature, we need to start the weekend in the right manner on Friday.

"🐬Last year we finished just off the podium, so this year it'🍸s our goal to rectify this and to continue the work done at the last race."

An interesting rumour to emerge since Assen is that Rossi might🔯 sign Vinales' ♉current crew chief Ramon Forcada, should Vinales hire a ne🌼w chief engineer for 2019.