HRC just slapped "the end" on their GP1/NSR500 test at Barcelona and it was curiously without the services of Val Rossi, current 500 world champion and the man reputed to be under a great deal of internal pressure to ride the V-5 next year.

You'll note that after the recent Jerez HRC test, Rossi's go-fast genes were so scrambled by riding the V5 that he said he was gonna have to get some seat time on a 500 to get his mojo back.

Instead of letting Rossi do so, HRC flew in the always entertaining Shinichi Itoh (who started racing GP in 1989) to sub for Ross-man at Barcelona.

It could not be helped; Rossi was monumentally busy in Bologna this week doing the grin and bear it for the fans when not hanging at Costa's place. He's also attempting to grow a beard, but it's is not going that well, which is odd in this day and age when seemingly any 15 year old worth his Nintendo can grow a full Abe Lincoln in a weekend.

Rossi is now off to the Canary Islands to thrash other people's rally cars in a Michelin event where he gets to rub fenders with Bayliss, Xaus and others.

A full damage report will be filed Monday.