Valentino Rossi had secret Ferrari F1 trial and almost ditched Moto GP

“It was start with a small team, try to make some experience, and after if I am fast enough I’d arrive to Ferrari. But I had a lot of question marks.

“I also had a lot of pressure from my side. ‘Go with the car’, ‘go with Ferrari’ because it’s something big.

“Everybody when I tried to explain and try to ask for help for my decision, they say to me ‘no, no, you have to go to F1’. Also, my mother, for example.

“I think I have to decide myself, and in my heart, I think I have to stay with MotoGP.”

The 23-race 2022 campaign begins on 18-20 March, with winter testing for the all-new generation of cars underway from 23 February.

source: express.co.uk