Rossi gives little away after third Ferrari outing

MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi gave nothing away about his future intentions after wrapping up a three-day Formula One test with Ferrari on Friday.

"I am happy to have had the chance to get back behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula One car," said the 26-year-old after testing at the team's Fiorano circuit in central Italy on Wednesday before two days at Mugello.

"I drove at Fiorano to re-acquaint myself with the car in preparation for these two days at Mugello, which is definitely a tough circuit.

"Obviously I already knew the track, even if it is very different sitting in the cockpit from being on a bike," added Rossi, who has won motorcycling's premier category for the past five years.

"I was able to do around 600km, increasing my understanding of the handling of the car on a very different track to Fiorano.

"I have to say it was a great experience."

Rossi, winner of 11 MotoGP races in a season that finished only last weekend, thanked Ferrari for giving him the opportunity.

A Ferrari spokesman said Rossi did about 40 laps on Friday with no problems or incidents.

No further tests are planned before the New Year.

The Italian has now had three separate outings with Ferrari, starting with a secret session at Fiorano in 2004 before another last August.

Italy's highest-paid sportsman is being courted by Ferrari as a possible replacement for seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher when the 36-year-old German eventually retires.

Rossi has a year remaining on his Yamaha contract and has yet to decide what to do after 2006.