MotoGP ace Valentino Rossi has thanked Ferrari after again being given the opportunity to drive their F1 car.

Rossi, who has just signed a new one-year deal with Yamaha, explained that the reason for the test was to get a ‘better understanding of an F1 car’. He completed his two day outing on Wednesday, notching up over 80 laps at Fiorano – the Scuderia’s private test track – in last year’s car, the championship winning, F2004.

"I wanted to get a better understanding of a Formula 1 car," he explained, "and I would like to thank Ferrari for giving me the opportunity to do so.

"The two days were intensive and interesting. I completed a lot of kilometres and I began to understand the handling of the car, working with the engineers and [test driver] Marc Gene.

"Now I go back to the two wheels where there is still a long way to go to the end of the season."

Rossi currently leads the race for the 2005 MotoGP title by a commanding 120 points, with seven of the 17 rounds still to go.