Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi anxiously waiting for Bridgestone clearance

Valentino Rossi has admitted he has no idea whether he will be allowed to begin testing Bridgestone tyres immediately after this weekend’s final race in Valencia.
 
Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team is contracted to Michelin tyres until the end of November, and rumours have emerged in Valencia today the French factory could block Valentino Rossi from making his debut on Bridgestone rubber in the post-season test on Tuesday.

Michelin bosses are furious the 28-year-old Italian has dumped them at the end of a tough 2007 campaign that has seen Valentino Rossi comprehensively beaten by Ducati rival Casey Stoner.

If Michelin insist on holding Yamaha to its current contract, Rossi would not be able to use Bridgestone tyres until testing resumes in Sepang on January 22 next year when the seven-week winter testing ban ends.

Valentino Rossi has been in the same situation before at the end of 2003. When he announced he was quitting Honda to join Japanese rivals Yamaha for the 2004 world championship, HRC blocked him from riding until January.

Asked if he was going to be testing with Bridgestone next week when preparations for the 2008 MotoGP world championship kick off immediately after the final round in Valencia, “I don’t know right now.
“I think they have some other problem but I don’t know if it is possible to try the new tyres at the test,” said Valentino Rossi.

Asked by MCN if he were worried Michelin would block the test he added: “I have this experience in 2003 and I think it is a risk. But I don’t know yet. Yamaha has the contract with Michelin and not me.”

Valentino Rossi will be the lone Yamaha rider on Bridgestone tyres in 2008, with new factory team-mate Jorge Lorenzo running on Michelin tyres.

•  Check out next week’s MCN (November 7, 2007) for the biggest new motorcycle issue set to feature 23 new bikes