"Rossi Shines in F1 Test"

Valentino Rossi showed up his critics with a strong performance in a testing session for Formula One team Ferrari.
World MotoGP champion, who spun off on his opening lap the previous day, completed 53 laps at the Valencia circuit on Wednesday.

"It was a very good performance, we cannot deny it," said a team spokesman.

Despite Rossi's success on four wheels, Yamaha stated earlier this week their driver was fully committed to defending his MotoGP title.

The Italian has one season left on his Yamaha contract and Ferrari have admitted they are keen to sign him up for the 2007 season.

But a Yamaha spokesperson said: "He's a Yamaha rider this year and all parties are 100% aware he is testing F1 cars."

Rossi, who has won five straight MotoGP titles, has tested with Ferrari on three previous occasions.

During his latest testing session, he had a best lap of 1:12.851 - little more than a second slower than Ferrari's seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher in the new V8-powered 248 car.

Defending world champion Fernando Alonso was fastest with a lap of 1:11.291.

Schumacher, 37, has been the backbone of the Ferrari team for several years but his contract runs out at the end of 2006 and he has still to decide whether to continue or retire.

Ferrari hired Felipe Massa to replace Rubens Barrichello as their second driver for next season but his contract also expires at the end of 2006.

Britain's John Surtees is the only man to have won world championships on two wheels and four, taking the Formula One crown with Ferrari in 1964.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/4671950.stm

http://crash.net/news_View~t~Rossi-m...~id~124803.htm





Never doubted that he would be competitive!

Stinks very much of BS to me. Are we really to believe that he is lapping so close to Schumakers times? I dont buy it myself.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

Stinks very much of BS to me. Are we really to believe that he is lapping so close to Schumakers times? I dont buy it myself.

Why not Peter, being so well informed as you usually are, you'll no doubt know that Rossi started out racing Karts etc etc before he got into bikes. He said in his autobiography that he went to bikes because it was cheaper and his dad couldnt afford to get him better 4 wheeled equipment. I think he has a degree of basic speed and he learns quickly as he has demonstrated before. He learnt at an early age just like Schumacher etc how to go fast on four wheels and IMHO once you have that skill you dont loose it.

As for his spin, well we all know Rossi likes to find the limit and then step back slightly, look at the crashes he has had in his first year of 125, 250, 500 ?

Fizz...With respect I am fully aware of Valentino's Karting exploits as a kid.
The point I am mainly getting at is,only in November they were commenting as to how it would take a while for a new driver to get used to carrying the speed needed in an F1 car in to the bends.In addition it was mentioned that the G Forces on a drivers neck on fast sweeping bends in particular are absolutely awesome and the strength needed cannot be built in 5 minutes. I mean look at the neck on Coulthard! Valencia has some very fast sweepers(one in which Valentino binned his Yamaha in qualifying in November!)

I know at times it may seem that I am anti Rossi...to be honest that is far from the truth, I accept also that he is a very motivated individual. But I cannot see how anyone can expect him to do a "Surtees" in this day and age.
And why would anyone bring in a 27 year old novice when the World Champion is only 23?!

However believe me if he does make a genuine success of this F1 malarky then i will be the first to show my admiration.

ah, the voice of reason. I remember thinking 2 years ago that there is no way Rossi could win at Welkom in his first race for yamaha. I accept that it is a tough challenge and one that will take time but I see no reason to doubt that he is within a second of Schumaker, he still has a way to go to beat Alonso though. If he gets close to those sort of times he'll go to F1 for sure I reckon.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

But I cannot see how anyone can expect him to do a "Surtees" in this day and age.

Why not, do you seriously think that somebody with the sort of drive and ambition that Rossi has isnt going to take on the challenge that this is and want to do everything in his power to be successful. You reckon Ferrari would spend a fortune like they have already running him in cars round their test track and at god knows how much an hour if they thought he wasnt capable of being fast. Ross Brawn et all at Ferrari are very shrewd people in my opinion if they thought he was wasting his time they wouldnt even bother to put him in the car.

Neck strength et all IMHO he could gain in the gym as well as more time in the car. You're right DC has a big neck, but then hes got a big chin as well

I'm of the opinion that his karting experience will have taught him basic car control from a young age. Personally I dont think thats someting that he will have forgotten. I'm also of the opinion that he is very adaptable, and able to change the way he rides the bike. To me this says he has good feel for what the bike is doing and again I dont see why this cant be translated to four wheels.

Chutz makes a good point, nobody expected him to win his first race for Yamaha.

I dont think he'll go to F1 just yet anyway, I think he'll want to be the 800cc class world champion in 2007 after the regulation change. Personally I hope he stays on bikes and that the some of the newer upcoming riders, Melandri, Pedrosa, Stoner bring him a fresh challenge this year, I think the only way he'll go to F1 is if he gets bored with winning all the time.

A most astute and interesting post Mr.Fizz. I too agree that Rossi would not want to walk away from the chance of winning in the reduced engine capacity category next year. However as you rightly suggest,he is really going to have his hands full with some of these Young Guns,that is for sure!

Go on my son.

Lets not forget at this level 1 second is quite a margin to make up.
I would also be behind Rossi if he moved to F.1.

Again, in the autobiography he said that he was prone to spinning/crashing 1st. time out (I know he has tested before for Ferrari, but taking it that this is the 1st. test in a while), but he got a good result in the end.

What happens in the future is anybody's guess.

Probably worth a flutter, if you're a gambling man/woman.

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

In addition it was mentioned that the G Forces on a drivers neck on fast sweeping bends in particular are absolutely awesome and the strength needed cannot be built in 5 minutes.

The ability to withstand Gforces is indeed important. However, the real difficulty is having the strength to maintain fast lap times over race distance. It's less likely to have an effect during a test session.

Good point Jordan.