The extension will run from 2007 to 2011 and was signed yesterday during a meeting between Mediaset vice-president Pier Silvio Berlusconi and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
The deal allows Mediaset exclusive live terrestrial broadcast rights for every round of the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP World Championships in Italy and follows impressive viewing statistics for the network during the 2005 edition of the series, when national hero Valentino Rossi claimed the title for the fifth successive season.
Mediaset's live coverage of the MotoGP races was followed by an average of 4 million viewers, representing a 36.8 per cent audience share.
The 2006 MotoGP World Championship gets underway with the first round of the campaign at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, on March 26.
