What's Rossi up to??
Posted: 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.
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.
