Flamboyant triple MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has stirred the rumour pot after recently being quoted as saying that "I would like to drive rallies for Fiat after my bike career".

The comments were reportedly made, according to the respected Autosport magazine, by the Italian motorcycling star, to Fiat's Marketing chief, Lapo Elkann, during a conversation which apparently took place earlier this month at the 29th Bologna Motor Show.

Much speculation has swirled this year around a possible career switch to four wheels, with the all-conquering Ferrari Grand Prix team when he ends his MotoGP career, which is expected to happen in two years time.

In fact, Rossi actually joined Scuderia Ferrari's Michael Schumacher on track during a test session held the team's private race circuit, Fiorano, last April.

It was a very exciting day for me," declared Rossi at the time. "Driving an F1 car was an amazing experience and it was great for me to follow in Schumacher's footsteps for a day."

While Rossi completed just a handful of laps at the wheel of an F2004, a racing car he was at that point completely unfamiliar with, he reportedly greatly impressed Ferrari team personnel after posting a best lap time that was only two seconds off the pace. So much so was his impact that Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo, later commented that he would be more than happy to invite the two wheel star back for a further test drive in the near future, a comment that sent the rumour mill into overdrive.

Valentino Rossi was born in 1979, a year his father, Graziano, won three 250 Grand Prix races. Nicknamed 'The Doctor', he entered GP racing in 1996 with Aprilia, winning the 125cc title the very next year.

With his blue eyes and swirling mop of hair, he was already setting about capturing the imagination of bike fans worldwide. Two years later he swept to the 250cc crown, before, in 2001, he stepped up to win the 500cc championship, and thus become only the second rider in history to claim titles in all three classes.

The next year, 2002, saw him dominate proceedings of the inaugural MotoGP season, riding a four-stroke factory Honda RC211V bike.
 

With his relaxed attitude and calm, easygoing approach, the charismatic Rossi, attracted legions of new fans to the sport.

He followed up this amazing year, by winning the title once again in 2003. This year however, yearning for a new challenge he jumped ship to the Yamaha squad, a waning star of the sport. Much as Michael Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996 and set about reviving a legendary name, Rossi was seeking to weave his magic at Yamaha.

However, the team's turnaround in fortunes was electrifying, and by the end of the year he had claimed his third, straight, MotoGP title. Rossi, always blisteringly fast and ultra-consistent, stormed to nine wins during the season, compared to four wins managed by arch title-rival Sete Gibernau, and just one for the legendary Max Biagi.

A frequent pit guest of the Ferrari Formula One team in recent years, it had been widely tipped that he would following in the footsteps of great drivers, such as John Surtees, who made the switch from two to four wheels, and would drive a third Ferrari, if the ever-shrinking Grand Prix field, forced the Scuderia and the other teams to run additional cars.

Now talk has turned toward a possible rally career when he hangs up his leathers in two years time. With Fiat gearing up for a greater rally involvement next year at JWRC level, and a with Super 2000 challenger, based on the new Punto, now under development, bringing one of motor sport's most exciting and famous personalities on board would be an unrivalled coup.

by Edd Ellison