Motorcycling champion Valentino Rossi has tried to play down his aspirations to compete in Formula One races in the future.

Honda's newly-crowned world champion said on Thursday: "In January and February I hope to test the Honda Formula One car."

But on Sunday, the 23-year-old Italian insisted: "I don't know about Formula One. I don't tell of any plans."

And a Honda official did his best to dampen speculation that the MotoGP champion would switch bikes for cars in the near future.

"We are aware of the rumour, but it is very unlikely for him to move to Formula One at least for now," said the Honda official.

"We have not even heard of any conclusion on his Formula One test drive.

"Rossi won the championship for the second straight year, but his challenge in the motorcycle sports will continue.

"It is not so easy to switch from one type of race to another," the official added.