Yamaha: no deadline for Rossi

In the last year Rossi has tested several times for the Ferrari F1 team and has been linked with a move to Formula One in 2007.

Asked at today's launch of the MotoGP team in Milan whether the Japanese manufacturer had set a deadline for Rossi to decide on his future, Yamaha team director Davide Brivio told autosport.com: "No, we're waiting for him to let us know."

While Yamaha are awaiting for Rossi to make up his mind, Brivio said that the team are planning for the future in case the Italian rider decides to move elsewhere.

"Obviously our priority will be to wait and see what Valentino wants to do," said Brivio. "If he'll carry on with the bikes we hope it will be with us otherwise we'll see. Obviously we're thinking about it.

"In our meetings we talk about the possibility [of him leaving], but we're scared to think about it because we wouldn't like to find ourselves in that situation."

After a Formula One test in Valencia last month, both Rossi and Ferrari said there will be further tests.

Brivio, however, is not worried testing cars will make Rossi lose focus on the bike, and he reckons it might in fact benefit his performances.

"Absolutely not, because especially this winter I've seen him very focused and efficient. It almost looks like it's beneficial for him," he said.

Asked how much of a loss it would be for Yamaha and for MotoGP to lose Rossi to other forms of racing, Brivio replied: "I don't know how much, but we'd all lose out. Obviously Yamaha would lose the best rider in the world, maybe the best rider of all times, and MotoGP would lose a lot of audience, so let's do our best to make sure he stays."

Brivio also said he doesn't know whether Ferrari have given Rossi a deadline to decide on his future.

Yamaha's position about Rossi testing in Formula One was further reiterated by Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing: "We have one of the world's top sportsmen with us, one of the very best sportsmen in the world, and sportsmen will always look for new challenges, extreme challenges.

"So our position is that we allow Valentino to express himself and to make the next challenge.

"Of course, we want Valentino to stay with us, so the only thing we can do is to put together the best team, the best bike and the best package because we know, in his heart, he's a motorcyclist, so we hope if he has fun riding the Yamaha and we provide him with everything we can, he will stay with MotoGP."