Valentino Rossi is on the verge of clinching his fifth straight MotoGP title at Motegi in a three weeks time as rumours and reports from Italy, specifically La Repubblica suggest that the Italian star has signed a three year deal to join Ferrari in 2007 for an estimated 80 million Euros.

La Repubblica suggests that Rossi and Kimi Raikkonen will be the 2007 lineup for the once dominant champions.

There has been nothing official on this from Ferrari who just took up an option on the services of Felipe Massa to partner Michael Schumacher next year. Schumacher himself is under contract to the squad until the end of 2006 and according to reports, will await the first tests of the F2006 before making any decision as to whether he will remains with the team, move to pastures new, or retire from the sport.

The Rossi-Ferrari link is nothing new, but recent test with the teams seem to indicate the two parties are moving closer to a long- term working relationship and Rossi is believed to be conducting another two tests this year for Ferrari. His new contract with Yamaha is a one year extension and is up at the end of 2006.

Of course, a lot of Ferrari's 2007 lineup will depend on how competitive the team is next year and how well Felipe Massa performs alongside Schumacher. As it stands, Ferrari and tyre partner Bridgestone are between one and two seconds a lap off the pace at many Grand Prix. Should the team return to its winning ways in 2006, Raikkonen and Rossi may well be more inclined to make the move.

 

Wait, Ferrari has a motogp team??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fluke702 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wait, Ferrari has a motogp team??</TD></TR></TABLE>


no, rossi also drives race cars.

 

I figured this thread was for another bike you bought.

 

Jesus thats a lot of moneys. Anyone know how many Euro's to a dollar??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sup gurl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I figured this thread was for another bike you bought.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

80,000,000 Euros = $97,847,957.60 USD

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by big pete &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">80,000,000 Euros = $97,847,957.60 USD</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Everyone has seen this coming for a while now. I'm still not sure what I think about it. With the direction that MotoGP is headed loosing Rossi would be devastating for the sport.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by big pete &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">80,000,000 Euros = $97,847,957.60 USD</TD></TR></TABLE>

WOW.

Motog GP = $6,000,000+ USD

Which is nothing compared to Ferrari F1.

Go Rossi

 

Just what Ferrari needs, hire a bike jockey to mend their team. Rossi is a competent four-wheeler but his tests (for Ferrari) have been nothing special. I think he'd end up being there for publicity mostly, but if you've got either Michael Schumacher or Kimi Raikkonen in the #1 car, that's not a bad arrangement.

 

If you f00ls have seen Faster you will also know that Rossi does Rally racing as well! Too bad he crashed the Citröen that he was driving...lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just what Ferrari needs, hire a bike jockey to mend their team. Rossi is a competent four-wheeler but his tests (for Ferrari) have been nothing special. I think he'd end up being there for publicity mostly, but if you've got either Michael Schumacher or Kimi Raikkonen in the #1 car, that's not a bad arrangement.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

1.5 seconds off of schumacher's lap record at ferrari's test track isn't that bad for only his second test. It was the first time that he got the use of telemetry and it was supposedly in less then ideal conditions.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by big pete &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">80,000,000 Euros = $97,847,957.60 USD</TD></TR></TABLE>

geez i wont see that much in my life

 

I hope he gets owned in F1.

Long live Sato!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RebornGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everyone has seen this coming for a while now. I'm still not sure what I think about it. With the direction that MotoGP is headed loosing Rossi would be devastating for the sport.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't really see why it would be so devastating for MotoGP to lose Rossi. Honestly, I think it would make it much more interesting to watch, since it won't be the Rossi show every race.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I don't really see why it would be so devastating for MotoGP to lose Rossi. Honestly, I think it would make it much more interesting to watch, since it won't be the Rossi show every race.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Rossi has single handily brought public interest in gp racing to the highest it has ever been. He is the most successful and popular rider ever and you think him walking away from the sport wouldn't hurt it? That's similar to saying Tiger walking away from golf wouldn't be bad for that either. Riiiight.

Now I'm not saying that Rossi leaving is MotoGP's only issue because within the next 5 years they need to make some huge decisions to stop themselves from going down the same road that F1 went. The bikes are starting to become so advanced the rider is being slowly phased out.

Rossi is an an absolutely amazing rider and even more importantly he has an absolutely electric personality that seems to draw people to him. He has the ability to make fans at first sight and has the skills to keep them.

 

Rossi's not even close to the most successful rider ever. however he is popular, that is the truth. and it is debatable on whether the competition is as good as years past, but he is successful, and popular. racing will survuve just like it did when roberts walked away, rainey was forced to retire, lawson walked away, doohan walked away.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Schubeedoobee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Rossi's not even close to the most successful rider ever. however he is popular, that is the truth. and it is debatable on whether the competition is as good as years past, but he is successful, and popular. racing will survuve just like it did when roberts walked away, rainey was forced to retire, lawson walked away, doohan walked away.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dominant would have been a better word for me to use then successful. If he continues to race for the next 10 years don't you think he would claim the spot as the most successful rider ever?

Yes racing will survive but it will clearly take a huge hit as Rossi is a much more popular celebrity then any of those riders were.

 

[QUOTE=Schubeedoobee]


No Michael I dont know wherea your steering wheel issa, I dont ave it.

Hello Genius, meet God.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RebornGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dominant would have been a better word for me to use then successful. If he continues to race for the next 10 years don't you think he would claim the spot as the most successful rider ever?</TD></TR></TABLE>

He has a chance too I suppose. Rossi has been racing GP's since '96. That's 9 years. He's amassed 60 some odd wins and I think 6 world championship wins total.

Compare that to say Ago who raced GP for 12 years and collected 120+ wins and 15 Championships. Plus he won the Isle of Man like 12 times.

Rossi is an amazing competitor and if he decides to stick around for a while he will go down with the greats that have been mentioned. Irregardless, he will still be remembered, but let's not over-do it here.

 

rossi will be slapped with a reality stick

in Moto GP he can win with inferior equipment, there is little chance of that in F1

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr Hammond &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Compare that to say Ago who raced GP for 12 years and collected 120+ wins and 15 Championships. Plus he won the Isle of Man like 12 times.

Rossi is an amazing competitor </TD></TR></TABLE>


Truth be told

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NegativeLift &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">rossi will be slapped with a reality stick

in Moto GP he can win with inferior equipment, there is little chance of that in F1</TD></TR></TABLE>

Amen.

He will get his *** handed to him, plain and simple.

Kimi at Ferrari....:laughs:. They'll have to have one hell of a season in 2006.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITRbroham &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Amen.

He will get his *** handed to him, plain and simple.

Kimi at Ferrari....:laughs:. They'll have to have one hell of a season in 2006.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Kimi at Ferrari was reported to be pretty much a done deal. It might depend on how they do...but it might not.

I want to see Montoya and Rossi at Ferrari; Kimi and Heidfeld at McLaren; and Jenson Button at Williams and that other British guy at Williams.