Moto GP world champion Italian Valentino Rossi, seen here walking on the paddock, admitted he was delighted after setting a stunning lap time of 1min 21.900sec during testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on Thursday.

Moto GP champion Valentino Rossi admitted he was delighted after setting a stunning lap time of 1min 21.900sec during testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on Thursday.

Rossi was taking part in his second day of testing with the Ferrari F2008, the same car with which 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen set the circuit’s lap record in 2008.

That was a time of 1:21.670, just over a couple of tenths faster than Rossi’s penultimate lap.

“We kept the last three quarters of an hour to try a ‘time attack’ with little petrol and fresh tyres,” said 30-year-old Rossi, who added he had enjoyed himself even more than during his last test with Ferrari at Mugello in November 2008.

“It’s more effort in Mugello but this track here is really wonderful, with motorbikes and cars.”

Rossi spun twice at the turn during wet conditions on Wednesday and although the weather was not ideal to begin with on Thursday he still managed to complete 600km over the two days.