Let's pretend for a moment that Valentino Rossi does leave MotoGP to race in Formula One for Ferrari. How long do you think it will take before he starts having good results?

Back in the early 60s, when cars, bikes and racing were simpler, John Surtees gave up bikes for Formula One. In 1960, he took second place in his second race, at the British Grand Prix and started from the pole in Portugal, while racing for Lotus. After seasons with Cooper and Reg Parnell (a private entrant), he joined Ferrari in 1963 and won the World Driver's Championship in 1964.

How will home-town hero Rossi do? Will he follow Surtees's footsteps and be competitive from day one? Will he be more like Mike "The Bike" Hailwood and have some decent results but no wins and not much to brag about? Or will he just fizzle?

Given the specialization of Formula One these days, and that the current drivers have been racing on four wheels since single-digit ages, I suspect Rossi will be more of a publicity stunt than a serious driver.

What say you?

The examples of motorcycle stars succeeding in car racing are pretty rare. The guys who went dirt-to-dirt seem to have the most success (Joe Leonard, etc.). Among modern cross-overs, Jeff Ward had probably the best result (IIRC, 2nd at Indy). Carmichael has certainly not shown any particular genius for four-wheel racing; arguably, without the Monster/Kawasaki connection he wouldn't have a seat.

Another factor is that Rossi has made it plain that rally is his preferred auto racing mode. I personally would love to see that, for the benefit of probably the most under-rated auto sport in the world.

damon hill raced bikes a couple years before switching to 4 wheels and winnng the f1 title.

rossi will not switch. and if he did, he would not be successful. he'd be as successful as the chin was in motorcycles.

good catch on jeff ward, ridenm.

If Rossi went to F1 the only way I would know how he was doing would be from posts here. I used to be an F1 fan but these days my eyes glaze over after 10 laps.

for a guy that appreciates the technical bling on real superbikes,I would think you would look at F1 the same way

John Surtees is the only motorcycle world champion to have won an F1 title. Mike Hailwood had minor sucess. Johnny Cecotto had a great run in German touring cars. But generally bike racers don't make the transition very sucessfully.

methinks the political make up of most car racin series goes against the grain of most motorbike racers
I know it sure turned me off when I investigated goin 4 wheel
well that and the expense

mtwracin - 17 November 2009 09:16 PM

for a guy that appreciates the technical bling on real superbikes,I would think you would look at F1 the same way

Loved 'em 20 years ago, I just can't get interested now.

Since they glued them to the road they've been hard to watch. Plus the current batch look like they were all designed by the same person.

First off, he would obviously do better than Alonso would do in MotoGP (I mention Alonso because he mentioned it himself). And Damatta, Rossi would also do better than Schumacher has shown... simply based on the fact that he would be closer on pace to the F1 guys than the F1 guys could ever get to the riders.

That said, 'success' in modern day F1 depends on a whole list of factors, with the drivers basically playing a minor part. Look at this season, you have the world champion from last year, as well as all the front runners from last year, completely lost and off the pace. Hamilton and Raikonen didn't suddenly become bad drivers... and Button didn't suddenly become good.

This is why Rossi didn't switch in the past and probably wont in the future. If he can't make a difference and show his talent, there is no point for him.

garyb425 - 17 November 2009 09:08 PM

I used to be an F1 fan but these days my eyes glaze over after 10 laps.

You can endure 10 laps? Your loins are surely girded for carbon fiber.

When I flip through the Dish Network Channel guide and see that they're showing qualifying, I sigh.

That's enough for me.