In an effort to turn around a somewhat lackluster season so far, Valentino Rossi will ride a version of Ducati's 2012 chassis fitted with an 800cc engine at the next race at Assen.

Used under the name GP11.1, the bike will also have a new transmission system similar to the one used by Honda.

Since teams have been allowed to conduct tests on their future 1000cc bike, the Italian is quite familiar with the new chassis after having had the chance to ride it at the Mugello recently.

So far this season, Rossi has only taken one podium finish since joining Ducati, but the multiple MotoGP champion believes that the new bike could somewhat help the team, but insists that no one should expect an immediate upturn in form with the new bike.

Meanwhile, Honda is lining up Gresini rider Hiroshi Aoyama for a promotion to a factory seat for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix as Dani Pedrosa looks set to miss a third straight race.

Pedrosa has now confirmed that he should be back on the Honda for the Italian GP at the start of July, but is currently unsure whether he will be fit for Assen, which starts with practice on Thursday.