What's Rossi up to??

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:05 pm

Just one day after signing a new contract to remain with Yamaha for the 2006 MotoGP World Championship season, Valentino Rossi has reignited speculation of a future four-wheel switch by reportedly taking part in a second Ferrari Formula One test.

The six-times world champion first drove Ferrari's F1 machine last April, when he completed around 20 laps at their Fiorano test track - with his best lap time rumoured to be just three-seconds slower than world champion Michael Schumacher's lap record.

Reports in Italy now indicate that the #46 returned to the same track yesterday (Tuesday), when he is said to have driven for much of the day in last year's F2004 machine - lapping at around the same pace (relative to Schumacher's lap record) and with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, no less, watching on.

But, while the first (2004) test was publicly acknowledged by Ferrari, there has been no official comment from the team regarding this second outing - although Gauloises Yamaha team director Davide Brivio is said to have had prior knowledge of it, unlike last time. It is thought Rossi may also have the chance to drive again today (Wednesday).

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Ferrari announced that Rubens Barrichello would leave the team and be replaced by current Sauber driver Felipe Massa. Interestingly, that announcement came just hours after Rossi had officially committed himself to staying in MotoGP next season.

Rossi's new Yamaha contract is for just one year.

AND THEN:::

MotoGP ace Valentino Rossi has thanked Ferrari after again being given the opportunity to drive their F1 car.

Rossi, who has just signed a new one-year deal with Yamaha, explained that the reason for the test was to get a 'better understanding of an F1 car'. He completed his two day outing on Wednesday, notching up over 80 laps at Fiorano - the Scuderia's private test track - in last year's car, the championship winning, F2004.

"I wanted to get a better understanding of a Formula 1 car," he explained, "and I would like to thank Ferrari for giving me the opportunity to do so.

"The two days were intensive and interesting. I completed a lot of kilometres and I began to understand the handling of the car, working with the engineers and [test driver] Marc Gene.

"Now I go back to the two wheels where there is still a long way to go to the end of the season."

Rossi currently leads the race for the 2005 MotoGP title by a commanding 120 points, with seven of the 17 rounds still to go.

up2nogood · Post by **up2nogood** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:49 pm

Lucky he'a a shit hot rider and has lots of money!

'Cos that head.........

photomike666 · Post by **photomike666** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:57 pm

Does it fuel any rumours that Barrichello is considering not driving for the reds next season???

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 3:31 pm

photomike666 wrote:Does it fuel any rumours that Barrichello is considering not driving for the reds next season???

aardvark wrote:Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Ferrari announced that Rubens Barrichello would leave the team and be replaced by current Sauber driver Felipe Massa.

Then there's this:

Michael Schumacher has welcomed the signing of current Sauber driver Felipe Massa to be the German's team-mate at Ferrari next season, the seven-times Formula One World Champion stating that the Brazilian "deserved this chance".

"I am happy for Felipe," said Michael. "In my view he deserves this chance as he is doing a good job since quite a while now. We have seen his talent lately in F1 but also when he was test driver for us. And we have not been the only ones who were interested in him."

Massa will be replacing countryman Rubens Barrichello, who has been Schumacher's team-mate since 2000, and Michael wished the likeable nine-time GP winner all the best for the future.

"With Rubens I shared a nice time and a lot of beautiful memories. I wish him all the best in his new team," said Schumi.

That new team is expected to be BAR Honda.

mrmina · Post by **mrmina** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 4:30 pm

thats a smile only a mother would love

and bobbie

ozx6r · Post by **ozx6r** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:49 pm

also heard that he is thinking of changing over to rally
last time in car was ni 2002 gets a drive later this year as well.

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:56 pm

ozx6r wrote:also heard that he is thinking of changing over to rally
last time in car was ni 2002 gets a drive later this year as well.

Last time he drove a rally car, he smashed it. Don't think they're in a hurry to have him back.

9zer0 · Post by **9zer0** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:49 am

mrmina wrote:thats a smile only a mother would love

and bobbie

10 bucks says he has smacked more hot bottoms than there are people on this site

mrmina · Post by **mrmina** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:41 pm

9zer0 wrote:
mrmina wrote:thats a smile only a mother would love

and bobbie
10 bucks says he has smacked more hot bottoms than there are people on this site

i reckon... lucky bastard

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:02 pm

Oh, did I forget to mention that the teeth are a set of those "Redneck Teeth" that Mamola can often be seen wearing?

HemiDuty · Post by **HemiDuty** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:23 pm

9zer0 wrote:
mrmina wrote:thats a smile only a mother would love

and bobbie
10 bucks says he has smacked more hot bottoms than there are people on this site

Hey I have smacked a lot too. Oh you mean without getting charged with sexual offences.....

Zombie · Post by **Zombie** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:04 am

From ITV-F1.com website

Valentino Rossi has tested a Ferrari again. Do you think he will ever make the switch to F1?
Tom Burns
York

Hmm…tough one. I’ll say no, for two reasons.

Firstly, ‘Vale’ has just committed to another year of MotoGP with Yamaha. At the end of that contract he’ll be 27. That’s getting on a bit to make an F1 debut these days, even with Rossi’s God-given talent.

Secondly, he said recently that he wasn’t interested, and would end his racing career in bikes.

I dearly hope I’m wrong, as F1 really needs a charismatic showman who also happens to be the best driver in the world. His lap times around Fiorano weren’t bad, either.

The Italian Media’s latest story about Rossi becoming Ferrari’s official test and reserve driver seems a bit far-fetched. A case of them wanting him in F1 too much?

Still, he lives in London’s Mayfair, so if you find yourself down that way, Tom, and you bump into him at the local supermarket, ask him!

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 1:44 pm

Well, since he's a such a freak, maybe he's test driving the F1's to try and find some secret handling updates he can make to the bike?

HemiDuty · Post by **HemiDuty** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:43 pm

Yeah - Downforce

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:59 pm

The latest rumour to be sparked by Valentino Rossi's return to a F1 cockpit is that the six-times motorcycling world champion could become an official test driver for Ferrari.

Italian magazine Autosprint quotes 'Ferrari sources' as saying that during Rossi's latest test, conducted in private, the Italian lapped within 1.5secs of Michael Schumacher's lap record around the Fiorano test track.

Rossi is also said to have covered 375km over the two days, which meets the 300km minimum required when applying for an F1 superlicence.

Ferrari currently employs Marc Gene and Luca Badoer as their official test drivers and will field Brazilian Felipe Massa as a replacement for Rubens Barrichello, alongside Schumacher, for the 2006 racing season. Rossi has already committed to MotoGP with Yamaha next year, but is free to choose his future after that.

A testing contract was traditionally seen as the first step towards an F1 race drive, although 'professional' test drivers - with no realistic chance of graduating to a race seat - are now frequent throughout the rich end of the F1 grid.

It is thought Rossi would be unable to accept an 'official' Ferrari testing role while racing in MotoGP due to sponsorship clashes.