Alonso welcomes end of Rossi speculation

"Good. Like this we don't talk anything more about him," the Spaniard told reporters at the Monaco Grand Prix, after Rossi had announced he plans to continue racing in MotoGP.

"After four months, maybe this is the last question (I face about him)," added the Spaniard, who had said in the past Rossi was wasting Ferrari's time with his tests.

Rossi had been courted by Ferrari and has impressed in several increasingly serious tests with the Formula One glamour team over the last year.

Ferrari are waiting to hear whether seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, now 37, wants to continue next year and have also been strongly linked to McLaren's Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen for 2007.

Team boss Jean Todt said testing Rossi had been a pleasure for Ferrari.

"It was a pleasure giving him the chance to try out a Ferrari racing car," Todt told ANSA. "All those who worked with him were struck by his ability to adapt to Formula One, by his talent and courtesy."

"Now we will follow with great affection his MotoGP challenge, hoping that he can get what he so richly deserves."

Rossi, winner for the last five years in a row in the top category, has endured his worst start to a season and is currently languishing in eighth place after five races.