25/08/2005
NEWS STORY
In an interview with British tabloid The Sun, Superbike star Neil Hodgson admitted that Valentino Rossi's switch to four-wheels is a matter of when not if.
Asked if it would be possible for a bike champion to emulate John Surtees and successfully switch to Formula One, Hodgson replied: "I think we're going to get a chance to see that as Valentino Rossi is going to switch at some point.
"Last week he was testing the Ferrari at their track and if anyone can do it, he can. It's an exciting prospect and I believe he will be successful at it."
Hodgson admitted that he feels that in time Rossi will come to be regarded as the "greatest rider of all time".
"It feels good to have raced against him and to witness what he's achieving now," he added. "He's breaking so many records already and he'll just carry on doing that."
Earlier this week, Ferrari boss, Jean Todt, refused to rule out Rossi taking part in further tests with the Italian team.