Rossi: No rally switch in near future

The motorcycle racing legend has always been a huge fan of rallying, and has contested several World Rally Championship events between his MotoGP commitments - most recently finishing 12th for Stobart Ford in the 2008 Rally GB.

There had been speculation that he could join the WRC when his current Yamaha deal ends in 2011 - particularly as the team's primary sponsor Fiat are already rallying an Abarth built to the S2000 rules that will form the basis of the WRC's post-2009 technical package.

But while Rossi has reiterated that rallying is his most likely destination when he retires from MotoGP, he said such a move was still a long way off.

"I have always loved rallying, ever since I was little," said Rossi. "It is one of my great passions and it is great to do one when I have the time and the chance.

"I always enjoy it a lot and probably, when I have given up the bikes and when I have the chance to improve and I have more time, I will do more... but it's not a close future, because I still want to race with the bike for a few more years."

He added that he had definitely decided against moving to Formula One after MotoGP, and underlined that his winter test with Ferrari had been purely for fun.

"In 2006 I decided to stay with the bike and, of course, I still have some doubts, but just to climb inside the red car at Mugello and work with Ferrari was fantastic," Rossi said.

"As I said before, I had my chance and I decided to stay with bikes. The choice is made and I don't think that there will be another possibility."