Rossi scraps Rally GB plans

The Italian was set to compete in the rally in a Subaru Impreza in December, but Yamaha boss Masao Furasawa has requested that Rossi attends the final MotoGP test of the year at Jerez instead.

Rossi competed in Rally New Zealand last year, and he had planned to make the WRC finale his only appearance in the championship in 2007.

"Last year I did Rally New Zealand because I had the time," said Rossi. "At the beginning I said to Yamaha if it was possible not to come to Jerez and they said no problem."

Yamaha's change in policy is likely to be down to the fact that this year's MotoGP championship has been dominated by Casey Stoner for Ducati.

"Over the last few days Mr Furasawa said to me if it is possible to cancel the rally and I said yes," Rossi added. "It is a maximum effort (for 2008)."

Rossi will mainly focus on a range of new engine set-ups in a bid to improve the electronics of the engine, which should help the torque of the Japanese unit.