"Valentino Rossi is on the verge of clinching his fifth straight MotoGP title at Motegi in a three weeks time as rumours and reports from Italy, specifically La Repubblica suggest that the Italian star has signed a three year deal to join Ferrari in 2007 for an estimated 80 million Euros.
La Repubblica suggests that Rossi and Kimi Raikkonen will be the 2007 lineup for the once dominant champions.
There has been nothing official on this from Ferrari who just took up an option on the services of Felipe Massa to partner Michael Schumacher next year. Schumacher himself is under contract to the squad until the end of 2006 and according to reports, will await the first tests of the F2006 before making any decision as to whether he will remains with the team, move to pastures new, or retire from the sport.
The Rossi-Ferrari link is nothing new, but recent test with the teams seem to indicate the two parties are moving closer to a long- term working relationship and Rossi is believed to be conducting another two tests this year for Ferrari. His new contract with Yamaha is a one year extension and is up at the end of 2006.
Of course, a lot of Ferrari's 2007 lineup will depend on how competitive the team is next year and how well Felipe Massa performs alongside Schumacher. As it stands, Ferrari and tyre partner Bridgestone are between one and two seconds a lap off the pace at many Grand Prix. Should the team return to its winning ways in 2006, Raikkonen and Rossi may well be more inclined to make the move."
from f1-live
i even heard in that last motogp race that rossi will do some testing with ferrari in barcelona with the other teams in the track too, to find out what rossi can do compare to other drivers...this rumor getting stronger every day
really if it's gona be rossi and kimi it will be a dream team.....
speed freak