He's known as The Doctor because of his cold and clinical dismantling of opponents in motorbike racing, but the prognosis looks healthy should Valentino Rossi decide to carve out a future in rallying.
The multiple MotoGP winner is in New Zealand to see if he has what ittakes to compete in the Rally of New Zealand and, judging by the smile on his face and his move up the leaderboard yesterday, it's not out of the question.
In his only other start in a World Rally Championship (WRC) event, in the 2002 Rally Great Britain, he came off second best after a run-in with a tree in only the second stage.
In dreadful conditions yesterday, Rossi not only kept the car on the road, but also moved up to 12th after starting the day midway through the field in 23rd. He was clearly becoming more comfortable in the car and was even ninth fastest in the 33km-long 10th stage and seventh in the short sprint at day's end.
"Driving is difficult for a newcomer," the Italian said, "but we are here and that is important. We had to take it carefully but it was a great second day. The stages today are very beautiful, fast and it was fun to drive."
Rossi has provided the rally with a genuine rock star in an already classy field. Driving in bright yellow, his favourite colour, and with his regular No 46 on his side panels, the 27-year-old was the one everyone wanted to see.
But it was nothing to the attention he receives elsewhere in the world. When he flirted with the idea of a move to Formula 1 and trialled with Ferrari recently, he drew choking media and public interest which he rated as a major distraction.
It's hardly surprising considering he's a seven-time world champion and Sports Illustrated listed him as the seventh-best paid athlete in the world. Banking an estimated US$30 million a year, he had little trouble financing his drive in New Zealand.
