Brivio denies Rossi/F1 comments.

Gauloises Yamaha team director Davide Brivio has been forced to clarify his comments to the Italian media regarding Valentino Rossi's racing future, after he appeared to reveal that the six-times world champion would move to Formula One in 2007.

Brivio is reported to have said that his star rider would sign a new contract with the Factory Yamaha Team for next season - which would be his third with the Japanese company - and then leave MotoGP for Formula One (see separate story) but, according to Brivio, that wasn't what he actually said.

"I think it's important to set the record straight about some comments reported in the Italian media this morning as they seem to have appeared elsewhere now," said Brivio at Le Mans today. "I said that we are going to start working on an extension to Valentino's contract and we will be discussing it after Mugello.

"I was then asked about any plan Valentino might have to drive in Formula One and I said that would be Valentino's decision and it might happen. I certainly did not say that he would be in F1 from 2007," emphasised Davide. "From Yamaha's side we hope that he will still be riding for us, but I cannot predict Valentino's future!"

Rossi, chasing his fifth consecutive 500cc/MotoGP title in 2005, was fifth fastest on the first day of the French Grand Prix.