ROSSI REGRETS NOT MAKING SWITCH TO FERRARI

(ANSA) - Rome, March 20 - Ferrari is different than any other Formula 1 team and working for it is like being part of a religion, according to Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

''Ferrari is a religion, it is different than all the other teams. I think racing for Ferrari must be like playing for the national team,'' Massa told fellow Brazilian and AC Milan and Brazil forward Kaka' in an interview to be broadcast by Italian TV on Sunday.

In another comparison between Formula 1 and soccer, Massa said that his former Ferrari teammate and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and the late Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna ''are a bit like Pele' and Maradona''. ''When I raced with Schumacher for me he was like Pele', a complete athlete,'' Massa said.

MOTOGP CHAMP ROSSI REGRETS NOT MAKING SWITCH TO FERRARI.

Sunday's show will also see Italian rapper Jovanotti interview reigning MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Rossi said that the biggest threat to his throne will be from the rider he took the title away from last year: Ducati's Casey Stoner.

''He is a very strong rival, In 2007 he beat me for the crown, in 2008 I beat him. So I guess you could say that this season will be our rubber match,'' the Yamaha rider said.

In the interview, Rossi said that his only regret in life was ''not to have switched to Formula 1 and raced with Ferrari. But now I'm 30 and I made my choice then. And while Ferrari is still in my heart, I don't think I'll ever race one''.

Last November when the MotoGP and Formula 1 seasons were over, Rossi tested the Ferrari's 2008 race car. But it was not like the tests he made three years earlier when he was contemplating a move to Formula 1.

The Yamaha rider flirted with the idea of making the switch after he won his fifth MotoGP championship in a row in 2005. Despite some positive results, in the end he decided to stick to two-wheel racing.

Rossi said at the time that ''it's like being on another planet. It's like a soccer player switching to basketball''.

Many fans and observers believe that Rossi's infatuation with Formula 1 distracted him and were in part responsible for him failing to win the 2006 and 2007 MotoGP championships.


Hmm hope some of this tv show gets youtubed and maybe vale will give a further insite.

clicky

thanks for posting the article man... i think motogp is geting boring for rossi especially in its current state, thats why he wants more competative sattelite bikes and complains about the size of the grid and the way electronics are going.

he is a true racer and likes a good scrap on the track and thats why he wishes he made switch.
i know formula cars dont over take much but thats not the point here, he wish he switched just because its something different.

I'd say Vale wishes we went to WSB more than anything.

World SuperBike

Vale will go to F1 for 3 years, quit. Take some time off. Then join WSBK for 3 years and win the title.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Mar 21 2009, 12:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Vale will go to F1 for 3 years, quit. Take some time off. Then join WSBK for 3 years and win the title.
Particularly as he appears to be implying that this year could be the deciding rubber between him and stoner. I agree he may well seek greener pastures/a new challenge if he wins this year.

Rossi is not going anywhere.

He's close enough to most wins that he's staying until he puts his name on top. Most titles is probably too far away, however.

His motivation is not beating Stoner or Pedrosa or whoever, his motivation is leaving the Championship with his name above Ago's in the record books.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Parc Ferme @ Mar 21 2009, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Rossi is not going anywhere.

He's close enough to most wins that he's staying until he puts his name on top. Most titles is probably too far away, however.

His motivation is not beating Stoner or Pedrosa or whoever, his motivation is leaving the Championship with his name above Ago's in the record books.


very true

I actually think he indeed should have gone to F1. Seriously, even if he's not on the top of every record table, in my opinion he has absolutely nothing to prove in roadracing. But I'm not complaining, MotoGP wouldn't be the same without him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wander @ Mar 22 2009, 02:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I actually think he indeed should have gone to F1. Seriously, even if he's not on the top of every record table, in my opinion he has absolutely nothing to prove in roadracing. But I'm not complaining, MotoGP wouldn't be the same without him.
I don't think anyone really knows what he will do, but I believe beating agostini's wins or titles totals would now be a fairly petty ambition for rossi, since many including possibly ago himself would already consider him ago's superior. If he struggled for motivation in 2006 and 2007 as seems likely, surpassing ago's records would hardly seem enough to fuel him for several more years, particularly as he does not appear to be enamoured of the current motogp formula.

If he felt like he had nothing left to prove, then he wouldn't have made such a massive celebration with Angel. He would have just let that record pass on by with no sound or fury.

If he left now, it'd be like climbing Everest and then stopping 100 ft. from the top and turning around.

He's not going anywhere.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Parc Ferme @ Mar 22 2009, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If he felt like he had nothing left to prove, then he wouldn't have made such a massive celebration with Angel. He would have just let that record pass on by with no sound or fury.

If he left now, it'd be like climbing Everest and then stopping 100 ft. from the top and turning around.

He's not going anywhere.

Well F1 is the world's most important motor racing competition so considering he might have had the chance of driving for Ferrari (one of the best and almost a religion in Italy) it's not surprising he regrets it.

But l guess he was afraid of wasting his career if it didn't work. And now it's too late he is going nowhere.

WSBK???? pleaaaase .... maybe when he can't win anymore in MotoGP (1st division) he'll go there to beat some mediocre riders to feel better.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Parc Ferme @ Mar 21 2009, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>His motivation is not beating Stoner or Pedrosa or whoever, his motivation is leaving the Championship with his name above Ago's in the record books.



Ok, flame suit on.

If the major motivation for Rossi is to beat the records (as you suggest) than personally I see this as sad and demeaning to himself and his sport, but mostly showing a character trait that many suspect but few have seen from Rossi.

It is all well and good to celebrate records as they occur if they are achieved within the natural course of a career, but to then base that entire career and it's subsequent longevity around the need to break records is (IMO here) somewhat sad.







Garry

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Mar 22 2009, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ok, flame suit on.

If the major motivation for Rossi is to beat the records (as you suggest) than personally I see this as sad and demeaning to himself and his sport, but mostly showing a character trait that many suspect but few have seen from Rossi.

It is all well and good to celebrate records as they occur if they are achieved within the natural course of a career, but to then base that entire career and it's subsequent longevity around the need to break records is (IMO here) somewhat sad.







Garry
I don't think it's a case of breaking records to feed his ego which i assume your implying by saying its demeaning. I think its just having a new goal to aim for to keep himself motivated.
When i go for a ride i have to have a destination, i cant just ride about aimlessly.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Mar 22 2009, 11:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't think it's a case of breaking records to feed his ego which i assume your implying by saying its demeaning. I think its just having a new goal to aim for to keep himself motivated.
When i go for a ride i have to have a destination, i cant just ride about aimlessly.


I understand your point and hope that is indeed what occurs as I recognise that the comments did not come from Rossi (I personally doubt that VR would even acknowldge that he rides for records were it to be the case).

As for it being done to feed the ego, I see how you got that I was implying it and in a way that was what I was getting at (given some recent quotes), but I also feel that if a person needs to have motivations aside from simply winning than they need to look at themselves. Of course, if winning lots brings records with it, than so be it and good luck to the individual.





Gaz

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Mar 21 2009, 12:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I agree he may well seek greener pastures/a new challenge if he wins this year.
This is the first year of his new two year deal with Yamaha, so we should have him in MotoGP for at least another couple of years.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 22 2009, 10:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>WSBK???? pleaaaase .... maybe when he can't win anymore in MotoGP (1st division) he'll go there to beat some mediocre riders to feel better.
I like MotoGP, I like SBK, I like domestic championships. If MotoGP is so superior then how come the riders that have left MotoGP and are now in SBK are not the ones at the top?

I would like to see Rossi race in SBK to see how his talent would translate to a production bike series.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mjpartyboy @ Mar 23 2009, 09:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This is the first year of his new two year deal with Yamaha, so we should have him in MotoGP for at least another couple of years.


ot the ones at the top?

I would like to see Rossi race in SBK to see how his talent would translate to a production bike series.
You can always retire, but you are probably right that rossi would see out a contract to which he has committed.

The recent motogp guys (or come to think of it the guys who did it in the past) who went to wsbk weren't exacty at the top of motogp. As you imply, the skill set is probably different, although not likely a problem for someone of the calibre of rossi, as he demonstrated in the suzuka 8 hour race with edwards, and as others at the top of motogp such as rainey, doohan and wayne gardner have also demonstrated in that race.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 22 2009, 05:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Well F1 is the world's most important motor racing competition so considering he might have had the chance of driving for Ferrari (one of the best and almost a religion in Italy) it's not surprising he regrets it.

But l guess he was afraid of wasting his career if it didn't work. And now it's too late he is going nowhere.

WSBK???? pleaaaase .... maybe when he can't win anymore in MotoGP (1st division) he'll go there to beat some mediocre riders to feel better.
Spot on assessment of his dilemma with Ferrari and Formula One.

He might go to WSBK... someday. But I think it would be a situation where he won the MotoGP title, retired as the greatest, was out of racing for a few years, missed the action and wanted to get involved again but not in the serious natured grand prix. World Superbike is a paddock that suits Rossi's personality perfectly but I think he is probably "above" it at the moment and it would take some time away from the sport to get him there. If that makes any sense at all.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>(Teomolca @ Mar 22 2009, 10:02 PM)
WSBK???? pleaaaase .... maybe when he can't win anymore in MotoGP (1st division) he'll go there to beat some mediocre riders to feel better.
ive said it before on the forum and just about everybody disagreed but, i still think rossi will go into team management when he hangs his leathers up like king kenny. or take a puig position and bring up new talent. I just cant see wsb being that attractive to him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>(Teomolca @ Mar 22 2009, 10:02 PM)
WSBK???? pleaaaase .... maybe when he can't win anymore in MotoGP (1st division) he'll go there to beat some mediocre riders to feel better.

I guess that makes any series, Spanish, American, and or BSB just Sunday rides

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Mar 23 2009, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ive said it before on the forum and just about everybody disagreed but, i still think rossi will go into team management when he hangs his leathers up like king kenny. or take a puig position and bring up new talent. I just cant see wsb being that attractive to him.

Teo's one of them non riding fans so you know how good those opinions are


You've got to be kidding Rogy...even Rossi himself has said how much more exciting SBK has become...way more than GP thats forsure...In the day of the 990 i'd agree with Teo...not anymore.... Honda and the 800 are killing my sport









F1 still sucks nuts