MotoGP star Valentino Rossi was widely quoted yesterday as saying that he wouldn't be making the switch to Formula 1 next year to drive for the Ferrari team, ending months of intense speculation. "I'll continue, at least for the time being, to race motorbikes," Rossi said. "Testing with Ferrari was an amazing experience, but I've still not finished what I want to do with motorbikes. I'm still very motivated."

Michael Schumacher, who may well have been driving alongside Rossi at Ferrari next year if the bike rider had made the switch, said his decision was "understandable because he knows what he has in his world It is maybe a little bit more difficult to know the world of Formula One and how you would adapt to different circumstances. I think he has a lot of talent in terms of driving but it is not only in terms of driving. It is sad but that's the way it is," added the German.

Rumours that reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi, nicknamed 'the Doctor',  would make the switch to Formula One have raged for almost two years, during which time the Italian has undertaken several test for Ferrari. Initially he tested around the Scuderia's private test track at Fiorano (twice) and then again privately at Mugello before at the beginning of February he joined many of the other F1 drivers taking part in an official FIA test at Valencia, a track the MotoGP rider knows well as it features regularly on the two-wheel calendar. While all the other runners were at the wheel of the new breed of 2006-specification 2.4-litre V8 engine F1 cars, Rossi was driving last year's V10 F2004 chassis, rev-limited to provide a comparison, but even so truly meaningful times were somewhat difficult to ascertain. On his first day, he completed 50 laps with one spin, and was eighth quickest, faster than a swage of established runners, while on the second day he undertook 53 laps, and was seven-tenths of a second off Michael Schumacher's best time.

Ending the speculation as to whether he would make the step from two wheels to four leaves Rossi free to chase the 2006 MotoGP title without distraction. After four rounds the defending champion is in an uncharacteristic eighth place in the title standings with just 40 points, compared to series leader Nicky Hayden's 83.
 

Rossi has suffered a large helping of unluckiness this year, taken out on the first bend during the opening race of the season, whilst the 2006-specification Camel-sponsored Yamaha has suffered major chatter problems, despite which Rossi has hauled a win out of it, at the second round in Qatar.  With a revised chassis on hand at last weekend's French Grand Prix, he was set to win comfortably, but for a rare failure on his Yamaha; this was his second DNF in a row, following tyre problems in China. Rossi is also out of contract with the Yamaha team at the end of this season, and thus also needs to secure his own MotoGP future.

Eliminating Rossi from the swirling Ferrari driver line-up equation removes one more name from the 2007 mix. Ferrari - who earlier this week unveiled Telecom Italia as a new team sponsor for next year - has stated that they will announce their drivers' for the 2007 season at the Italian Grand Prix.

With both 2006 drivers', Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa, out of contract with the Scuderia at the end of this year the situation is presently fluid. Schumacher has stated he will decide whether to continue racing or retire as the season progresses, while Massa has improved rapidly as he has settled into the team. Into the mix also comes McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, also out of contract at the end of this year, and who has long been rumoured to set to switch to Ferrari next year, and appears quite dissatisfied with the performance of the Mercedes-powered team so far this year. Renault, who will lose reigning champion Fernando Alonso to the McLaren team next year are also reportedly wooing the Finn.