Rossi 'fully focussed'

Colin Edwards has rubbished claims that factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi got distracted by a potential multi-million pound switch to Ferrari last season.

Some have said that Rossi testing for Ferrari this time last year, coupled with him having to decide whether to quit MotoGP, distracted him during winter testing for the 2006 world championship.

Asked whether it was a contributing factor to Rossi surrendering his iron grip on the premier class for the first time since 2001, American Edwards said: “That’s bullshit for me. I’ve never really seen him under pressure.

“The only time I ever saw him distraught to where I wanted to cry for him was after Valencia when he crashed the thing. But he is on a pretty even keel and as soon as he kicks his leg over a bike he’s always the same. 

“I don’t think there is anything that can mess with his head.”