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Yamaha boss concerned he could lose Rossi to F1
ESPNF1 Staff
January 24, 2010
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Valentino Rossi impressed Ferrari during his test in a 2008-spec car © Getty Images
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Yamaha's MotoGP boss Davide Brivio is concerned Valentino Rossi might be lured away from bikes to Formula One after his recent test with Ferrari.
Rossi has repeatedly denied suggestions he will move to F1 and said his outing in a 2008 Ferrari was purely for fun. However, his contract at Yamaha runs out at the end of 2010 and Brivio believes he is more likely to lose Rossi to F1 than a rival MotoGP team.
"The greatest danger is Ferrari," Brivio said.
Rossi put in some respectable lap times during his test at the Circuit de Catalunya, and although his performance is difficult to compare because he was running on GP2 slicks in relatively cold conditions, his time of 1:21.900s was just 1.3 seconds slower than Felipe Massa's fastest time in the same car during qualifying for the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix. Brivio believes that Rossi's showing was good enough to allow him to move to F1 if he wants.
"I have to be worried about these excellent times because Valentino really could get the desire to change sport," he said.
Ferrari team principle Stefano Domenicali, who granted Rossi the test, recently suggested that the MotoGP champion would be a prime candidate if his team was allowed to run three cars.
"A pilot such as Valentino, should he be interested, could be consistent with this type of project," said Domenicali.
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