Rossi to test alongside Schumacher

The Italian champion had only tested with Ferrari in private sessions, but now the MotoGP champion will be able to measure himself against other drivers when the three-day test starts next Tuesday.

Rossi will work alongside Schumacher and teammate Felipe Massa, driving an old F2004 at the Spanish circuit.

Ferrari will be joined at Valencia by McLaren, Toyota, Williams, BMW and Honda.

Rossi is under contract to the Yamaha team but he has been linked with a move to Formula One after having tested for Ferrari in a few occasions.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said during the launch of the new Ferrari on Tuesday that Rossi would only make a switch to four wheels if the felt he could win.

"Valentino is a great champion, and he's an intelligent guy: he knows that, if he decides to go to F1, he'll do it to win and not to be a sidekick," said di Montezemolo.

"So there's nothing more to say, except that he doesn't have a gun pointed at his head to make a decision, but for a passionate, red and Italian company, which has always shared a passion with the world of motorbikes, it was the least we could do.

"At the moment there's nothing more, in the sense that Valentino will probably do further tests in full freedom, and must go back trying to continue winning, so we have the same objective in 2006.

"I must also say that the motorbike is one thing and auto racing is another, so these things are up to the driver."