Rossi ends test strongly in the F2008

Improved track conditions on Thursday afternoon allowed Valentino Rossi to cut almost three-and-a-half seconds off his Wednesday best lap, as the MotoGP World Champion finished a two-day test in a Ferrari F2008 at Circuit de Catalunya.

The afternoon was not without a minor hitch however as, after returning to the track at 1.53pm, the 30 year-old completed a handful of laps before two errors – almost identical to one another – at the entrance to the chicane, a section of the track not used in motorcycle racing.

“Turn 10 is difficult because it is too narrow,” said Rossi. “For sure it’s much better when we go through it with a bike.”

Rossi completed several sessions of between four and five laps, finally timing a best turn of 1’21.9 – interesting, given that it would have placed him at 18th on the grid in the 2008 Barcelona Grand Prix.

“Today we hoped to run in the dry, but we had to fit wet tyres again this morning,” he said, before commenting on his performance later in the day. “I was faster than yesterday despite some problems with under-steering.”

He continued: “I haven’t driven an F1 car for a year, but today we worked on the setting. It’s always interesting to go a little further than just driving. I think it’s nice for Italian fans to see me driving a Ferrari. On the other hand, I must say that Montmeló is even more fun than Mugello.”

Turning his attention to his future on two wheels, Rossi spoke about a possible renewal of his contract with Yamaha: “It’s a special situation because the four fastest riders in the World Championship are in the final year of their contracts. Personally, I’ll think about it around June and may have decided by then.”

He concluded: “I’m happy with Yamaha, so I want to talk with them before anyone else.”