"The Doctor" from Moto GP to F1 Testing
The Doctor is at it yet again and this time on 4 wheels! The nine times Moto GP world champion has impressed all and sundry with his raw pace in a Formula one car at the end of two days testing with Ferrari in Barcelona in Spain.
Driving a 2008 spec Ferrari F1 car on GP2 tyres, the italian legend got within 0.1 second of Kimi’s 2008 pole position time at Catalunya circuit by posting a best time of 1.21.900. The time came in the penultimate lap of the test which was arranged by Ferrari as a gift for the champion for clinching his 9th Moto GP world championship title last season.
“We kept the last three quarters of an hour to try a ‘time attack’ with little petrol and fresh tyres,” said the thirty year old Fiat Yamaha rider.
”I would have given anything for such a lap time”, he added.
Compairing his experience with his last test for Ferrari at Mugello in 2008, Rossi said “We kept the last three quarters of an hour to try a ‘time attack’ with little petrol and fresh tyres. I would have given anything for such a lap time.”
“I want to thank Ferrari, but especially Domenicali and Montezemolo, for giving me this present.”
Ferrari’s Luca Baldisserri was suitably impressed by Rossi’s showing given the difficult test conditions on day 1 which was disrupted by wet weather.
“We tried different set ups and he improved a lot. This means that the driver learns quickly and has room for improvement.” he said.
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