ROSSI GOING TO F!

IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ROSSI WILL GO TO FORMULA 1 IN 2007

Is this official!!!???

This is all I could find:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>ROSSI TO SWITCH TO FORMULA ONE

Valentino Rossi is contemplating a switch to Formula One.

The leader in the MotoGP standings has previously been linked with a switch and has admitted it may happen as early as 2007.

Rossi, whose contract with Yamaha expires in 2006, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "For 2006 I am not changing I will stay where I am.

"I am settled, it is an excellent team. Soon my people will speak and it will be an easy agreement.

"From the end of 2006 I am free and if I have any offers from car teams I will weigh them up."

Asked about Ferrari, Rossi replied: "They are friends and I have already driven for them (in testing) but they are not the only ones."

Yamaha boss Davide Brivio said: "There are no problems about renewing the contract for 2006 - we have decided to speak after the Italian GP (on June 5).

"We are already agreed to let the contract expire after a year. And we know that in 2007 he will be in Formula One."

Bittersweet. Watching him ride is a thing of beauty so you have to be bummed about his departure but at the same time there are a lot of ups to this. There aren't too many people in the world who can ride a motorcycle and drive a car at the pinnacle of each sport. I know of only one, Valentino Rossi. I am very excited to see if wonderboy can give those guys a run for their money. Also this leaves the MotoGP riders championship wide open for 2007. Any early predictions? Best of luck to Vale this year, his last year on two wheels in 2006 and his debut season in F1 in 2007. Do the bike guys proud.

well it may be press hype you know what they are like maybe Vale will add a spark to a rather dull sport
if Sete ever follows they will have to fit bumpers to the cars

if u love moto gp then its a sad day when rossi goes but it was always gunna happen if they offer him the chance, 2007 world champion HOPPER ON A HONDA or melandri..

Bold pick with Hopkins on a Honda, I like it. You gotta look for him, Melandri like you said, as well as Hayden, Tamada and Elias if he develops properly. Or if Pedrosa has come up he will be one to watch out for.

Rossi say's it's a load of rubbish he is concentrating on GP

boo

I'll be surprised if he doesn't leave after 2006. He has done everything in MotoGP that can be done, he is a living legend and as of right now considered one of the best ever if not THE best. The next step for him is to try his luck at cars. If he were to be successful in Formula 1 he would be considered one of the greatest racers of all time, period.

would be interesting to see. he rides loose and ragged those F1 cars wont put up with that and once youve cooked your tyres your stuffed

All it takes is experience. Give him a season or two and he won't be over working his tires. I think he'll do well.

All ive heard is that his other passion is rally driving?

I can see him doing that cos theres not as much politics in rally driving.