oh sorry then .

no need to be sorry, only trying to help out

ow? didn't he do test in sepang then? or I'm miss-informed?

M1 Among The Doc's Favorite Scalpels
by dean adams
Monday, October 20, 2008

Asked recently to list the absolute best motorcycles he has raced in his career, newly-crowned world champion Valentino Rossi says that the current 800cc M1 Yamaha MotoGP racer makes his short list.

Rossi has raced a wide variety of motorcycles in his GP career, from Aprilia 125s and 250s to the Honda NSR500 two-stroke and both Honda and Yamaha's flagship MotoGP machines. He also raced a Superbike--of sorts. Rossi teamed with American Colin Edwards II to race and win the Suzuka Eight Hours endurance race in 2001, sharing a Honda RC51-based endurance bike for that race.

In no certain order, Rossi says that three bikes top his own personal "best of" list: the final version of the '01 NSR500 Honda two-stroke 500 he raced in the last season "Grand Prix"; his 2003 RC211V Honda V-5 and the current Yamaha 800cc racer which features pneumatic valvetrain.

The 2003 RC211V V-5 is the bike that legend has it drove a wedge between Rossi and Honda. Rossi wrote in his book that he requested the bike for his collection, but Honda would not give it to him, a point that in the end led to Rossi meeting with Yamaha and signing with HRC's rival for 2004.

Rossi dramatically silenced any remaining critics in 2004 when he won races and the MotoGP title on the previously thought to be uncompetitive Yamaha M1 990cc racer.
Any thoughts that Rossi would include the '04 M1 Yamaha on his best of list are dismissed with Rossi rolling his eyes and smiling momentarily at the memories of the '04 machine.

"No, many many problems with the 2004 model Yamaha. The 2005 Yamaha was better but the best was this year, 2008 model," he said.

I was sure that I read somewhere - in a direct quote, that he would be testing the new M1 in Sepang, but it doesn't seem to be happening so maybe he was misquoted....

yeah, indeed, that why i was asking.
hope at least that's why and not because i've got freaking alzheimer.

anyway, wow, since the afternoon rain in Motegi Vale really lost a lot of time to test down that new yam.

I think they mentioned testing in Sepang, but if I remember correctly they were talking bout the tests the beginning of next year. Usually one in January and one in February

Valentino Rossi and Mick Doohan hail crew chief

By Matthew Birt
MotoGP
22 October 2008 10:10

Valentino Rossi and Mick Doohan have paid tribute to Jerry Burgess after the Aussie crew chief reached another incredible milestone.
Rossi’s success at the Malaysian GP in Sepang, where he wrapped up a ninth win of 2008, took Burgess over the 150 mark for premier class victories.
The Italian is responsible for nearly half of those race wins with his tally now at a record-breaking 71, while Aussie legend Doohan contributed 54 wins to Burgess’ tally during a dominant spell in the mid-Nineties.
Rossi, who teamed up with Burgess in 2000 after Doohan was forced to retire through injury, said: “I am happy for him but not 100 per cent because for me it is impossible to arrive at the same number as him.
"And because we are together, if I win then he wins so my fight with Jerry is already lost! He is a fantastic man and he is very good in the work. He understands the way to set-up the bike but especially his best quality is he is always quiet. He is always the same.
"He is very happy when we win. He is not happy when we lose but also he is not nervous or angry. So he always positive for the future and he tries to understand what is the problem and he tries to look at the positive way for the next race.”
Rossi said a Burgess figure in Formula One would be revered; yet it was only winning races that motivated Burgess, who also worked with Ron Haslam, Randy Mamola and Freddie Spencer.
“If he was in F1 he would be famous and very rich. I think F1 is not his place. He likes motorcycles and he likes this type of life. He likes to drink beer at night and he likes to live in the paddock in his way. He would prefer it like this even if he is not as rich, “said Rossi.
Doohan also heaped praise on Burgess, citing him as a key reason why he was able to win five successive world titles between 1994 and ’98.
Assessing the attributes that make Burgess the standout engineer in the paddock, Doohan said: “It’s his calmness. He is good at getting a feel from the rider of really what he is trying to say. He might not be very, very technical, but he gets a feel for what you are saying and he can translate your body language and what you’re saying with what he needs to do with the machine.
"He is a team leader, He’s not a yes man, so he’ll direct and he’s not shy at making the team working as a team so everyone knows exactly what they are doing. He grows with every race win as well.
"He learns by his mistakes too and he is definitely one of the true engineers in the paddock and it’s a shame they don’t reward them here like they do in F1.”

thanks for that, nightnurse.. worth read.

Valentino Rossi confirms Ford drive in Rally GB

By Matthew Birt 23 October 2008 17:23

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has confirmed he will drive a Ford Focus in the Rally GB in early December.

The Italian had been weighing up Ford and Subaru options for the Rally GB, which he will compete in for the second time on December 7, having failed to complete the first stage back in 2002.

“I will race with Ford. I have some tests on the gravel with the WRC car before the event, “said the 29-year-old.
Rossi, who will also drive the Monza Rally next month, said: “I love to race with the rally car. It is one of my great passions and unfortunately the only time I can do it is between November and December. I am very excited because I always have fun with the car and there is less pressure than in MotoGP. So I can have a lot of fun.”

Rossi’s last appearance in WRC was an impressive one as he finished 11th while driving for Subaru in the New Zealand rally. Rossi goes into Sunday's Valencia GP in Spain aiming to notch his 10th win of 2008.